Rights, Privileges, Responsibilities

Maysen gave a talk in church today.  She didn't want any help with it. Not going to lie, while she was giving the talk, Mike and I were a little nervous.  She pulled everything together in the end and many people came up to me saying it was amazing.  Her topic was Choice and Accountability.  She talked about waking up in a place that was perfect. Perfect skies, perfect grass, you walk down a perfect path, with bushes that are absolutely perfect.  The flowers outside are perfect.  People are standing in perfect rows.  Inside there is a chandelier that is perfect with mirrors that are perfectly clean.  You see people you never thought you would see again.  They are polite and perfect.  Because everything is so perfect, it is not perfect.  Now imagine waking up in a place with skies that are setting and turning the most beautiful colors.  You walk down a curved path.  Children are planting flowers outside randomly, but their colors are strikingly beautiful.  Inside the chandelier is perfect and the mirrors have smudges on them.  The carpets are a bit stained and you can hear laughter everywhere you turn.  You see people you never thought you would see again.  They are so happy that are there. Because everything is imperfect, it is perfect.  Maysen then related this to Satan and Heavenly Father's plan.  I am paraphrasing her entire talk.  She did really well, but not knowing exactly what she was going to say was a little scary for her mom and dad.  While she was talking, it was completely silent.  She really had everyone's attention.  She is quite amazing.

We had a Family Home Evening lesson today on Rights, Privileges and Responsibilities.  We were gathering around the kitchen table and Stockton asked, "Are we getting a new chore system?  We always sit around the kitchen table when you give us new chores."  Oh just wait, Stockton.  Mike gave the lesson.  He always does such a fantastic job at explaining why we are doing what we are doing.  He talked about the children's rights in our family.  They are: Family that loves you, Food to eat, Warm place to sleep and Clothes to wear.  Those are the rights they have by being born into our family.  They are really lucky, because not all children have these rights.  Not all children are born into families that will always love them, have foot to eat, warm places to sleep and clothes to wear.

Mike then talked about privileges they have.  For example: Using the computer, Watching TV, Playing video games, Activities with friends, Hobbies and Interests.  Their privileges are just that.  Privileges.  They are based on the children fulfilling the responsibilities they have.  Their responsibilities are: Obeying the commandments, Make righteous choices, Obey your parents, Do your best in school, Get good grades, Help the family, Fulfill church duties, Participate in family activities, Develop music skills.  (I added that last one.  No one seems to think that is important but me.)  We  emphasized that the most important responsibility they have is obeying the commandments and making righteous choices.  Our kids are great at that.  Thank heavens!  This lesson was specifically geared to the 'get good grades' responsibility.  (It might or might not have been a coincidence that mid-term grades came out on Friday.)  So, long story short, the children's privileges will be taken away unless they have all As.  My kids are fully capable of having all As.  I am really worried about the oldest two.  They have never had to struggle to understand things, so as a result, they don't have a clue how to study!  Jorja studies HARD, and she studies all the time.  Learning Chinese will do that to you.  I feel she is going to be so much more prepared then the others.  How I wish Maysen and Stockton had been given that opportunity!

Anyway, we are lucky that we can see the kids grades anytime we want. So, if Maysen gets her C+ up in Chemistry, she will be able to get back to her computer.  Chemistry is scored almost entirely on tests, they have only had one test and Maysen messed up on the scientific notation, which caused her to get a C.  She is retaking the test tomorrow, so hopefully she won't have this C+ for long.  At the same time, we kind of feel that school should be the first priority, and right now it is not.  I know these next few days are not going to be fun.  Maysen specifically was not excited about this new plan.  Hopefully it will help us in the long run.  It is so hard to be a parent!