If you do not know who Rihanna & Chris Brown are, they are both singers. They are/were a couple, and were supposed to appear on this year's Grammy awards. Both performers failed to show, because on the morning of the Grammy's, the couple allegedly got into an argument which ended in violence. Chris Brown has since enrolled in an anger management program. While Rihanna is trying to deal with all that has happened.
This morning on The View, the co-hosts were discussing their thoughts on these events. One of the co-hosts, Sherri Shepherd, stated that she thought it was important for young girls to have a male figure in their life to instill in them a strong sense of self-respect. She also, implied that girls who don’t have such a man in their life are at a disadvantage. Whoopi Goldberg quickly disagreed. Ms. Shepherd dismissed this with, “Well, there are always exceptions to the rule”. Ms. Shepherd seems to be stuck in a thought process that says women teach their children one set of lessons, and men another set. I could not disagree more.
My mother & father have been married for over 48 years and raised three, rather strong-willed and independent daughters. When my parents were first married, my father was in the military and gone for extended periods of time. As a result, my mother had to quickly learn to manage the household and raise the children with only limited help from my father. My father is a great individual. I have learned many things from him and he has reinforced many of these beliefs I am about to list. However, it is from my mother’s words and actions that I first learned (in no particular order):
- I could literally become anything I wanted to be, if I only worked hard and applied myself.
- It is not being the best, but doing your best that is important.
- Education is essential for everyone; more importantly, it is never too late to learn new skills and ideas.
- While boys & girls are different, neither one is better than the other.
- Finding a person to share your life with is a wonderful process, but not a requirement.
- Relationships are not always perfect. They require quite a bit of compromise on both parts.
- Respect, love, and communication are the basis of any good relationship.
- No matter how many miles separate us, we are only a phone call away.
- Regardless of where we choose to roam, you can always come home.
- The house that we live in is just a building; home is the emotional and spiritual connection that exists between us.
- Family is not limited to just our relatives.
- When people fail you, and they will for that is a part of being human, there is always God.
- What church you attend is less important than the fact that you believe in God’s love.
- God does not discriminate; he loves all of his children unconditionally.
