Joey & Carla Link
April 8, 2026
We went to a theme park with our son’s family recently. He has 4 kids who wanted to ride roller coasters. They of course want their dad and Papa to go with them, so our son and I went on the rides with them while Carla and their mom stayed behind watching and taking pictures.
For one coaster, you had to stand in separate lines to get in the seat of the car. One line only had one person standing in it. I could see out of the corner of my eye a kid who looked to be about 11 or 12 yrs. old wanting to push past our group and join that lone rider.
I didn’t have a problem with this except how the young man was trying to do it. He did not say “Please may I get by you” or “Excuse me”, he just tried to push me out of the way. Feeling disrespected, I wondered where his parents were. I then wondered if they had taught him basic respect of others.
As these thoughts were going through my mind, he tried pushing between my son and I, which did not go well for him. Seeing an opportunity to reinforce what they have taught their kids on showing respect to others, our son asked this space invading kid,” Do you want something?” As he was now standing between two adult men, he looked at us and said, “I am trying to get to that car to ride with that guy.” My son said, “Is there a nicer way to accomplish that rather than try to push through us?” The kid said, “Could I please get by?” My son then stepped aside and said “Sure, I would be happy to move so you can get through.”
While this kid was still within earshot, our son took the opportunity to review with his 12 yr. old daughter what she would have done in that situation if neither he or I were there. Our granddaughter replied that she would have said, “Please sir, could I squeeze by you so I could ride up there where there is only one person in line?” My son commended his daughter and told her that was exactly what he hoped she would have done.
To be respectful is to show that you think what others feel, think or want is important enough to put them before what you want. Kids don’t come by being respectful naturally, so it is up to parents to teach them what respect is and how to show it to others.
This kind of teaching is what Moses gave Israel to teach their children in Deuteronomy 6:6-7 when he said,
“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.
Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home
and when you walk along the road.”
“UNDERSTANDING CHARACTER TRAINING (Part 1 and Part 2)”
How do you know if you are reaching the heart of your child or teen? Do you want your kids to be kind on their own initiative? Then you have to put the need to be kind into their hearts. This 2-part series lays the foundation for understanding what character training is and how Godly character is developed in one’s children.
Part 1 – Laying the Foundation
Part 2 – Getting to the Heart of Your Child
Parenting Made Practical Podcasts
#45 How is Your Kids “Respect Cog”
Respect is an integral quality everyone needs, including kids and teens. There are several areas kids need to learn to show respect to and in. Joey & Carla share 4 ways to keep your child’s respect cog functioning properly.
Click the title or search Parenting Made Practical in your favorite
podcast app to listen!