The return of students to school has me thinking back to when I was in school. If I could go back, I would do high school over again. To be honest, I hated school but I loved sports and miss them so much.
I would say I held my own in sports. I loved my coach. Well, we had a love-hate relationship. Back then we loved to hate her because she was so tough on us.
We did what the coach said or we ran sprints. Back then, no parents interfered with the coaching. If the coach came to our parents because of us disrespecting or not doing what we were suppose to, we got in trouble again at home.
They were tough but we did well because of it.
Respecting our coaches also taught us to respect our elders. Last year, I went to see my old coach and we were talking about the good ol’ days and I asked her why she didn’t coach anymore. “I would be in jail!” she said.
It’s not like it use to be. Kids today would not make it if they had the training we did in sports back in the day.
I have to ask myself, “Why is it that we coddle our kids so much today?” I can honestly say I didn’t do that to my kids. If they got in trouble in school they got in trouble at home. I always instilled in them to work harder than any other person on the team.
I even coached my own boys from time to time and pushed them a bit harder to prove that no one gets favors. When we all work hard together, we get great results.
Someone may be good at sports or something else. However, to excel, one must put forth the effort.
Always strive to do more than what your capable of. Don’t expect that people owe you. You are owed nothing. You earn what is giving to you and push harder to get more.
Kids will notice what you are doing and then mimic it. If you work hard. They work hard. If you stretch the truth, they will stretch the truth to get their way. Parents might want to step back and see the whole picture.
We have to prepare our kids for the tough world in which we live. It is not going to get better. As a matter of fact it is going to get worse before the rapture of the church happens.
We must prepare our kids to be able to handle whatever is thrown their way. We want them to stand their own ground and be able to handle it all — but with respect.
I pray daily that my kids, who are now grown, have been taught right from wrong and respect. The proof is in the pudding.
Everywhere I go, people tell me how respectful and polite my boys are. I guess we got something right along the way. Remember, we are parents first to our kids. When they grow up, we have great friends.
I have a hard time with people who say, “My kids need to find themselves. I am letting them discover what they want to do in life.”
This can be true but our kids need guidance and help in finding what is right for them.” Remember what the Bible says, “Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children.” I am not saying to beat your kids, but kids need to know there are consequences for their actions. We are held accountable in God’s eyes to raise our kids right. I don’t want to stand before the Lord one day and have Him ask me, “ What was all that going on?” It is something to think about.
Tennessee Peach Pudding
INGREDIENTS
Filling:
5 cups peaches, peeled and diced, fresh or frozen
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup whole milk
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Topping:
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 cups water
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
Ice cream/whipped cream/cool whip, optional, garnish
Preheat oven to 400º F and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray.
In a large saucepan over medium heat, whisk together brown sugar, sugar and nutmeg, then mix in butter and water and bring to a boil, stirring until sugar is fully dissolved.
Remove from heat and set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg until combined.
Whisk in milk and vanilla extract until smooth, then fold in diced peaches.
Pour filling into greased baking dish, then pour topping on top.
Place in oven and bake for 50-55 minutes, covering with aluminum foil, if necessary, until cooked through.
Remove from oven and let cool 15 minutes before serving.
Tina Specht is co-publihser of the Minden Press-Herald. She shares her thoughts and recipes each Thursday.