Wednesday, January 20, 2010

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.

7 comments:

  1. Hi, I have been reading your blog for some weeks, and I love it...I enter every day :), Im just can't waiting to have my childrens and teach them the gospel in the way that you do ^_^

    Sorry for my English(I'm Dominicam so i Speak spanish), I have a blog too, but is in spanish...

    So...I just want to say that your kids looks so sweets, and I love your Blog!

    Have a nice day.
    Patricia Bueno

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  2. You are so creative! Every day I look forward to seeing what you do with your kids and how you are able to teach them gospel principles. Thank you for sharing your wonderful ideas.
    Sometimes I find it hard to find things to do with my toddler, or I just want to get "stuff" done around the house.

    You truly are an inspiration and a great example of what motherhood should be.

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  3. I really like how you relate this to the Bill of Rights and call it the Children's Bill of Rights. What a great way to look at it. I like the doodle characters too. Very cool.

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  4. Sadie and Ella would have a field day with those doodles, I will have to download them. Thanks for the fun ideas and inspiration.

    Also, have you thought about organizing these ideas into FHE packets to download. I know I would love that.

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  5. keep up the good work...will try to direct more to your blog.

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  6. Hi thaks for visit my blog :)

    I'm waiting 3 more months to try to get pregnat again, Im fine but my husband need a minor surgery to improve the probability that I can get pregnant, so lets see what happen after that.
    so thanks anyway for visiting me and for trying to read me even if you need to use a translator...google translate its a good one...hahaha ;)

    thanks for taking the time to write me back

    Patricia Bueno

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  7. another great post. I am so thankful to have a faithful husband.
    I love these doodles I downloaded and printed them out the other day i think we will make them for family home evening next week.
    thanks for the inspiration I have loved visiting this blog and all the others from links etc It has been such a fun and uplifting month

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