Train Children When They Are Young

The English poet, Alexander Pope, wrote, “As the twig is bent, so grows the tree.” When new trees are planted stakes are often put into the ground beside the tree. The stakes are there for a purpose—to train the tree to grow straight and tall.

Those stakes work remarkably well if they are put in place when the tree is young. But If crooked growth has been allowed to develop for several years, they will not be effective. Rules for our children work the same way.