Simple Tips for Family Relations
It is important to treat younger members of the family with love and care.
Grown-ups need to view children with patience and understanding, al¬though
show respect and love for the elders in our family even if, at times, we
disagree with their opinions. When parents receive older guests in their home
with politeness and respect, children learn to extend similar courtesy to
teachers and elders in society. Children observe how their parents relate to
others and imitate what they see.
Age distinctions are often blurred by language. The pronouns "you" and "I,"
for example, are used in English regardless of a person's age. We address a
three-year-old child as "you," and do the same with a seventy-year-old
grandmother. A second-grader refers to himself as "I," as does a retired
grandfather. Parents address their children as "you," and children do likewise
when addressing their parents. Some people even address their parents by
their first names. However, other languages often utilize a variety of pronouns
for different occasions. In Japanese and French, for example, more polite forms
are used when addressing an older person, and informal words are used
when speaking to peers or juniors. Ideally, language should acknowledge
differences in age; it is better if we relate to children in a way that is a little
different from the way we relate to our parents and elders.