The Children's Bill of Rights

"Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity."

This statement has powerful implications,

if we take the time to really understand it.

In the world today, we hear a lot of debate over rights,

but the Lord very rarely mentions individual rights or entitlements.

That is why when the Lord says that children have a right to be born to a mom and a dad who are married to each other and who honor their marriage vows...

I take that pretty seriously.

Who are we to trample on the rights of these innocent children?

That is why I call this line of the Family Proclamation "The Children's Bill of Rights".

Many children born today will not receive this "entitlement".

But they can be taught now,

that the Lord considers this a "right" for all of the children

that he sends to earth,

and that they have a responsibility to protect that right,

--by marrying before having children

--and by being true to their spouse.

Your children will not learn this from anyone, but you.

It is a lesson that they will hopefully learn

both by example and explicit instruction.

I try not to assume that my children understand these concepts.

As I read the family proclamation to them I ask, "Do you know what it means for mommies and daddies to be faithful to each other?" Their answers help me to know how to proceed with the discussion, and leads to deeper understanding for all of us.

For our activity today, we made these doodle characters.

My kids were too young to trace the patterns themselves,

so I traced them and they colored them in.

It'll be fun when they are a bit older to have each family member draw a silly character of themselves, and make them into stick "puppets" or just use it to doodle whenever.

You can print out the "crazy cartoon" patterns here.

I laminated ours and attached them with a ring for long-term use.

Also, if you are interested in a Family Proclamation printed in a slightly different format, click here to download the one shown at the beginning of this post. I meant to print it in color.

I just kind of like the look of it.