English
EspañolEducate with moderation. Ask for what is possible here and now. Do not demand everything at once. It is impossible, and you discourage others. Remember, there is a period of time between sowing and harvesting, which can sometimes be quite long.
Text
“Moral education entails asking of a child or a young person only those things that do not involve a disproportionate sacrifice, and demanding only a degree of effort that will not lead to resentment or coercion.” (The Joy of Love, n.271)
Commentary
The upbringing of children, which is different for each one, should be done on an inclined slope, from less to more, or little by little. Just as one learns to walk by walking or learns to swim by swimming, we should lead our children with attainable goals.
If the goals we set for them, or they set for themselves, are too high, excessive, with no time limit between sowing and reaping, they may become demoralized or think that they are not capable of anything praiseworthy. Parents must possess the wise intelligence – and its generous patience – to discover the manner in which to celebrate every achievement, no matter how small it may seem. Praise helps to move forward on the path of a child´s education.
Moral education is not something foreign to what we do every day. There is no human action that does not have moral consequences. Therefore, it is in the very dynamics of ordinary life where, with small actions, children are formed.
