We Always Knew It, But Now Science Does Too

Foxnews.com had this story yesterday:

"Kids with religious parents are better behaved and adjusted than other children, according to a new study that is the first to look at the effects of religion on young child development."

I can look at my religious training as a child and know it had an effect on my behavior. It certainly challenged me from a young age to be better than my naturally self-centered self. Even if it wasn't the Christian ideals that brought better behavior, we know that one-on-one time with parents is important to a child's sense of security and self-confidence, and religious training required personal time and attention from both my parents. Whether I was well-behaved and well-adjusted as a child will have to be attested to by others, but I am very grateful for the effects of religion on my childhood.

A Woman In Training

The kids and I went with Matt to his last service of the day this past Sunday, mainly because I wanted some of his time after being away so long. Matt and I were talking on the way home when Katie started to loudly proclaim, "I have you a question, Daddy. I have you a question."
"Don't interrupt, Katie, Mommy and I are talking."
"But Daddy, talking is how you show someone you love them. I don't know if you love me."
Matt turns to me and says, "I blame this on you. You've been teaching her to manipulate me."

I have a vague recollection of talking with Kate about this, but I swear it was not with the intention of giving her tools for manipulation. This sure illustrates how quick we are at the youngest of ages to use principals of righteousness (i.e. a chief way we show another we love them is to communicate with them) to insist others must serve us. Now that I think about it, Katie may have learned this from me in practice. Her application does seem familiar somehow.