Too Big, or Not Too Big?

That is the Question...

By Oliver DeMille

Years ago, we took our kids to a Fourth of July party with some family friends.

My parents seldom went to such events with us when I was young, so Rachel and I make a point of it.

The mom of the other family was frustrated that dad didn't want to give the kids some money to spend at the events.

Actually, he gave them all a few dollars, but she wanted them to have enough to "really enjoy themselves," as she put it.

The kids begged her to go to the races with them, to sit and watch the theatrical reenactment with them, and to eat the free watermelon with them.

She kept telling them they didn't need to waste their time with their "old parents," and sending them off with more money to enjoy themselves--emphasis on the "selves," not being with the family.

Our family had a great time with all these "together" events, and finally one of the mom's daughters broke down and cried because she really just wanted to spend the fun time with her parents.

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For more ideas on developing your mentoring skills, see The Student Whisperer.

Oliver DeMille is a co-founder of the Center for Social Leadership, and a co-creator of TJEd.

He is the author of A Thomas Jefferson Education: Teaching a Generation of Leaders for the 21st Century, The Coming Aristocracy: Education & the Future of Freedom, and FreedomShift: 3 Choices to Reclaim America's Destiny.

Oliver is dedicated to promoting freedom through leadership education. He and his wife Rachel are raising their eight children in Cedar City, Utah.