Post by brightside on Oct 3, 2005 18:05:40 GMT -5
As a high school teacher of many years, I have seen a lot of good parenting, but sadly I have also seen some parents who, with good intentions, bail their children out of every problem instead of teaching them to take responsibility for their actions and helping them to develop coping skills. Other parents do almost nothing, leaving the children to almost raise themselves.
I have read several articles about your family and want to tell you how much I respect and admire the way your family has such strong ties and loyalty. You have obviously stressed education, responsibility, honesty, and integrity. I sponsor a peer mediation group that helps students resolve problems rationally and calmly; some obviously come from homes where yelling and putting each other down is what they have witnesseed. I was amazed at the control that Marty had on the show when one of the contestants acted in a less than desirable way. Marty firmly stood his ground, stated how he felt, and yet stayed cool and calm and didn't add to the problem. He could be a model for our program! He obviously grew up in a home where people talk out problems and respect each other--that is extraordinarily valuable, especially today in a world sometimes filled with hostility and rude behavior.
Lastly, in addition to all of these character traits, you all sound like an incredibly FUN group! You have raised a remarkable guy with so many good qualities I can't begin to list them all on this forum, and you are to be congratulated for that. Thank you and all parents like you who have done your job well; we all know is not an easy thing to do, but look at the amazing results!