What would you do if you discovered one of your children had been systematically ripping library books?
How would your response change if this child was six years old?
One afternoon, Aubree was reading and I noticed her chewing something. "What are you eating?" I asked.
After evading the question for a few moments, she finally admitted that she was chewing paper from her book.
She continued to admit that she'd been ripping pieces from a few pages in every book she reads. Analysis of the big bag of books waiting to be taken back to the library confirmed her confession.
"But, don't worry," she assured me, "I don't rip any words." Aaaauuuugggghhhh!
She did seem remorseful, and was even more so after a discussion of the gravity of her choices and of learning of her consequences.
She went with Mark to the library to explain what she'd done, was grounded from all books for 2 days, and chapter books until she went to the library to talk to the librarians. She'll also be completing a number of additional chores to earn money to donate to the library.
*In a strange way, I'm glad that she made this relatively big mistake. It provided an amazing learning experience. For example, Aubree was terrified to go talk to the librarians. She knew she'd messed up and was embarrassed and scared to face them.
Fortuitously, we had just been reading about the Sons of Mosiah in the Book of Mormon. They spent their youth trying to tear down the Church and lead many people to do great wickedness. When they learned of the error of their ways, they repented, then spent years trying to repair the damage they'd done by admitting their mistakes and telling and teaching the truth. They didn't always received a warm welcome in these endeavors and it took tremendous courage and humility.
It was a neat experience to be able to liken Aubree's situation to this story in the Book of Mormon. It didn't take away her fears, but did help her feel more courageous and helped her better understand that the scriptures aren't just stories, but they actually have relevance for what we're dealing with today.
1 comment:
Whew! I was starting to worry that she was perfect!
It is funny, though, to think about things from their perspective. Reading the words is the important part, right? Not those blank parts around the edges!
So sweet. You guys are doing a great job.
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