Instruction Manual

Have you ever heard someone say "I wish these kids came with instructions." Well, maybe they meant that with a newborn, but our kids do come with an instruction manual provided by our wonderful church. Elise and I have started shopping for summer clothes and she has been wanting tank tops and shirts with spaghetti strings and I just haven't known what to do or say. On one hand I know that it gets hot and she's only 6 and I say to myself "what's the big deal." But on the other hand I really want her to get in the habit of dressing modestly now. I have really pondered about this because I know that if I tell her "no", she'll want to wear them even more. How do you compromise on a standard that you know was inspired? So yesterday I was planning family night not really even sure how I felt still and I decided to talk about following the Prophet. The Friend magazine is so great. It practically does it for you with lessons and coloring pages. Then just as I was getting ready to gather them in the living room I came across the "For the Strength of the Youth", pamphlet and decided to look and see what it said about modesty. I mean could it be any easier? I wish I had this when I was growing up. They word it so perfectly and right away I knew how I was going to incorporate dressing modestly and following the Prophet. I didn't want her to feel like I was singling her out, even though I was and it turned out to be a really great lesson. I don't know if I totally convinced her, but I could tell she understood and that she does want to follow the Prophet. At one point she said that she could wear a shirt underneath and we talked about how when it starts to get really hot that that may tempt her to take the shirt underneath off and just wear the tank top. We talked about how if we wouldn't feel comfortable wearing it in front of the Savior then it is not something we should be wearing at all. I realized this morning as I was talking to my friend Amber about it on our walk that our responsibility as parents is to teach them correct principles and then let them make their own choices. I think it was Joseph Smith who said, "I teach them correct principles and they govern themselves." If we try to override their free agency then that is what pushes them the other way. But if we are clear on what we believe and how we as parents feel about it, even if at first they choose differently, hopefully they will come to understand on their own what the right choice is. This parent thing is so hard. I really did not think that we would be having to whip out "For the Strength of Youth", so early, but I could tell that she could feel the spirit as I was reading it. It is stated in such a loving way, so inspired. It's hard to let them make their own choices knowing that they may be wrong, but also knowing that they need to gain a testimony of it for themselves. But it really helped me to gain a testimony of "For the Strength of Youth". Our church is so awesome! We have been given so many wonderful resources to help us teach our children. We did end up getting a really cute outfit that came with Bermuda shorts (so happy that those are in), and she really liked it and thought she looked cute in it, but we are not done getting all of her summer clothes yet so I am hoping and praying that she will be able to find some really cute things and that she can always remember that she is a temple of God.