Bringing Up . . .

Once upon a time there was Bringing Up Father. Remember that? Then there is Bring Up Children and Bring Up Old Stuff and on and on. GREATCOURSES presents a catalog every so often with bargains on all sorts of courses on CDs or DVDs by professionals in these areas. I thumbed through this issue of 62 courses and was impressed.

There are courses on Mathematics to Philosophy, on World Religions and History, Science and Fitness and so much more. Being a grandfather, I read a couple of columns on Raising Kids that caught my eye. Seniors may be not raising kids (although some do out of necessity) but frankly, our opportunities to get involved do happen.

Both of these articles were good, practical and no doubt worthwhile. Their titles ring a bell: Scientific Secrets for Raising Kids and Raising Emotionally an Socially Healthy Kids. Notice that both authors used the word kids. And for $60.00 you could own 36 thirty-minute lectures instead of $455.00.

Not that I am an expert nor a professional critic, but as I skimmed through these 36 topics, I came away with one omission which may be implied, however. These were subjects like sleep, eating, baby talk, sign language, boosting intelligence, self esteem, social development, schooling . . . The other series included developing emotional intelligence, managing anger, making friends, popularity and rejection, happiness . . .

So, what was missing? Assuming it could be covered along the way, I looked for a specific dimension (although I didn't listen to the recordings). What I was seeking is perhaps difficult to handle, a subject often avoided or postponed. No, not religion but related. I wondered if and when and how they would deal specifically with right and wrong, good and bad, moral and immoral, beauty and ugly, fact and fiction, just and unjust all of which are crucial in raising kids.

If this isn't done by parenting where is it done, or undone? In the neighborhood, at school, on the job, in church, by the media or with reputable mentors or peers. We seniors look back on our successes and failures along the way, realizing that this virtue is too often not taken seriously enough or too seriously. Bringing Up is not an easy task but ought not be short-circuited which can be a very serious omission.