Tag Archives: Things that Really Do Matter

Punctuality Really Does Matter

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At what point do I let him learn this lesson the hard way?  I asked myself this question at 5:45 AM this morning.  I was waiting for our eldest.  He was supposed to be at our house at 5:30.   Bailey had asked me to drive him to catch a flight and on a good day it takes two hours to get to the airport.  With 7 inches of snow several days ago, I had no idea what to expect of the roads.

About the time I pulled into his driveway he texted to say he had overslept and would be out ASAP.  When we hit the road I gave him a quick, “Hope you make your flight but if you don’t it’s your own fault” roll of the eyes.

Don’t get me wrong…  I’m frequently late to events.  I’m often late to birthday parties.  I find myself heading to Wal-Mart about the time I should be arriving at the party because I’ve procrastinated on buying a gift.  I’m occasionally late to church because I often have a hard time finding the right thing to wear, I’m having a bad hair day, or more likely my 13-year-old and I disagree about her chosen attire.  And I’m late to evening Bible studies because I’m finishing the dishes or starting a load of laundry.

I consider some start times more flexible then others.  But there are times in particular when Punctuality Really Does Matter.

running late

I think one should be on time when food is involved.  No one wants to wait for you when the food is warm and the bellies are empty.

You should also be on time when someone’s schedule is tight.  Teachers, speaking from experience, will not be able to accommodate you if you are 15 minutes late to a meeting.  They have probably squeezed you into their lunch or recess break and their schedule is anything but flexible.

I’d also recommend you not be late for your wedding or special occasions with your spouse.   Timeliness also matters for your own children’s school programs (as some are 10 minutes tops), birthday parties, and nuptials.

Not long ago I served on a District Court jury.  When the trial date came around, the defendant in the case was unbelievably late.  I’d recommend you be on time when a judge or jury is involved.

And finally, there’s very little wiggle room when you travel.  Unless you own the vehicle you’re traveling in, and particularly if you’re traveling via public transportation, the boat, bus, train, or airplane will likely not wait for you.

Unbeknownst to me, Bailey had given us an extra 30 minutes to make a Starbucks run.  While we didn’t make it to Starbucks, we didn’t miss his flight.  Lessons learned… 1) pack the night before and 2) set your alarm to something other than soothing praise and worship music.

Before you leave the site, follow my blog (top, right of this post).  It’s quick and easy! 

For more from Marea, check out Me and Thee Studios’ faith based leveled readers for 1st-2nd graders at http://www.meandtheestudios.com/early-reader-collection.html

Modesty Really Does Matter

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My son made a quick trip back to his high school a couple weeks ago when his senior year annual arrived.  Bailey and I took the time to look through every picture, page, and caption together.

I’ve opened my own senior year annual many times over the past 23 years.  Wow!  That was some unbelievably big hair!

There is a picture in Bailey’s yearbook that has become quite the controversy.  The picture calls into question the amount of skin one should reveal.  I truly believe, for three very specific reasons, that Modesty (regardless of age or gender) Really Does Matter.

modesty 2

The question is not about confidence in one’s body.  My husband and I have taught our children that healthy bodies come in lots of shapes and sizes and that we’re all beautiful and unique.   I also believe that our bodies, as beautiful gifts from God, are meant to be shared between a husband and wife.

For me, the amount of skin one should cover depends on one’s audience, the distribution of images (should pictures or video be taken), and the affect of exposure on others in the American culture.

While I might believe something to be appropriate for myself, my husband, my own backyard, my girlfriends at a spa, etcetera, I must think beyond myself to the entire gambit of possible viewers. While the yearbook in question is a student production, it’s a given that a wide populous will see it.  It was produced using resources purchased with public money, will remain in several public collections for decades, and was likely paid for by parents.

In the weeks that have followed the release of this yearbook, the picture in question has circulated without any possibility of control on social media.  While I thought my 1992 big hair was “totally awesome,” I am less thrilled 20+ years later that several pictures of my hairdo fopa have popped up on social media.    The picture in this year’s annual has now been in local, national, and international news.  While I live in this moment, I have to acknowledge that my images, actions, and words will take on a digital, public life of their own and may live independent of my control for decades to come.

Most importantly (particularly for me as a 40 year old wife and mother) is the affect of exposure on others.  We do not live in a culture where nudity is the standard.

If I were to see a naked man ordering coffee at McDonalds or a naked woman shopping at Wal-Mart, I’d be shocked.  I’d wrestle with a mental replay of the image for the rest of the day.  My mind wouldn’t do the same thing if I was in Zambia, Africa on a mission trip or in an art museum.

While nudity is neither here nor there in many cultures, many of us (myself included) don’t know what to do with nudity in unexpected places.  Granted, the pictures were not full exposure but they did cause my eyes, and the eyes of my eighteen year old, to do a double take.

I have to acknowledge that immodest dress will cause others’ eyes and minds to wander, and those wandering minds may travel to a place I would never intentionally want them to go.

Do you intentionally teach your children about modesty?  If you’ve stumbled upon a fantastic way to address modesty with your children, please share!

Before you leave the site, follow my blog (top, right of this post).  It’s quick and easy! 

For more from Marea, check out Me and Thee Studios’ faith based leveled readers for 1st-2nd graders at http://www.meandtheestudios.com/early-reader-collection.html