Listen To the Children

Take a moment to listen today

To what your children are trying to say.

Listen today, whatever you do

Or they won't be there to listen to you.

Listen to their problems, listen for their needs,

Praise their smallest triumphs, praise their smallest deeds,

Tolerate their chatter, amplify their laughter,

Find out what's the matter, find out what they're after

But tell them that you love them, every single night

And though you scold them, make sure you hold them,

And tell them "Everything's all right."

If we tell our children all the bad in them we see

They'll grow up exactly how we hoped they'd never be

But if we tell our children, we're so proud to wear their name

They'll grow up believing they're winners in the game.

Take a moment to listen today

To what your children are trying to say.

Listen today, whatever you do

And they will come back to listen to you!

Grammar.

1. Pay attention to the following sentences which contain the Complex Object Constructions:

Let them accept responsibility for their actions as early as possible.

…they should treat others as they would have others treat them.

Never let friendships with others supersede your relationship with your spouse.

Make your spouse your best and most trusted friend.

2. The following sentence contains archaic forms:

“…thou shalt conduct thyself in such a manner as to set an example worthy of imitation by thy children”

Thou – you

Thyself – yourself

Thy – your

Shalt – should

3.Emphatic use of ‘do’:

… they do have minds of their own.

4.Note the use of an extended attribute in pre-position

A junior-high-school student

he win-at-any-cost myth;

a special-interest-group mentality;

the something-for-nothing myths;

if-it-feels-good-I'll-do-it myths.

Comprehension Check

I. Find in the text the sentences that say:

Integrity is a quality that does not let you seek profit and that doesn't depend on the situation.

A nation's condition is judged by the habits of its youths.

The reason of the youth's crises is in the decay of moral standards in the grown-up world.

The world sees more and more drug addicts.

I best three glimpses of life describe a quality which you can't lee m people too often and which today can be seen still more seldom.

They want to show that they are members of a "special, interesting group".

Students who cheat use various ingenious methods to get the highest marks or just get along with satisfactory ones and graduate.

Charity and integrity are both to be raised in children by their parents.

The more responsibility kids feel for others, the more they will come to respect themselves.

You may help your children but never permanently about what they can do themselves.

Teach your children that life will treat them in accordance with how they treat other people.

Let us keep in mind that children's behavior is a replica of the behavior they see in their environment.

Easier said than done.

Honesty is not a thing per se; very often it takes real sacrifice to be honest.

2. Find in the text the English equivalents of the following:

To, как ведут себя молодые, есть не что иное, как отражение системы ценностей, существующей в мире взрослых.

Там, где отсутствует самоуважение, появляется длинный список «требований».

Студенты идут на всевозможные ухищрения, чтобы попасть в число отличников, или просто «продержаться» и закончить университет.

Пусть дети научатся отвечать за свои действия с самого детства.

Внушите детям, что жизнь отплатит им добром прямо пропорционально их поступкам и что они должны проявлять к людям такое же отношение, какое ожидают с их стороны к себе.

Увы, многие родители воспитывают в детях сознание принадлежности к особой группе.

Равные права предполагают равную ответственность

Бросаться словами ничего не стоит, но отказ от собственного слова может дорого обойтись (стоить вам самоуважения).

Каждый раз, когда вы совершаете добрый поступок вместо дурного, вы укрепляете веру в добро у других и повышаете собственную внутреннюю ценность и самоуважение.

Пожалуй, честность в супружестве становится вещью более редкой, чем честность в профессиональной жизни.

Семейные измены возрастают в устрашающей пропорции.

3. Translate into Russian.

We go along for a while setting a good example, but sooner or later we start telling ourselves we need a break.

Honesty doesn't just happen; it is often displayed at tremendous cost and with real sacrifice.

Deeds are always more important than words. All deeds reveal how much you really value yourself.

Success always has a price; what counts is integrity.

Integrity is not an option.

Integrity is an absolute standard for those who really understand what being the best is all about.

Discussion

1. D. Waitley opens this chapter with the "three glimpses of life" in which three different characters reveal the same quality that he describes as "integrity". What human traits make up facets of integrity, as the episodes show?

2. How does D. Waitley define integrity? Is this quality of being honest and upright often met nowadays? What is the author's opinion? Is your opinion different from his?

3. What are the global youth problems the present-day world has to face? What or who is responsible for the youth crises, in D. Waitley's opinion? (In speaking about how the adult world is reflected in the habits of the youth, use the structures:

If it's good enough for... If grown-ups can-- Young people think...)

4. D. Waitley is sure that if integrity is a standing trait of your character, you can respect yourself. If you lose integrity you lose self-respect. Why does D. Waitley think it is dangerous? How are "wants" and self-respect connected?

5. D. Waitley devotes a special paragraph to students who sometimes think that it is just okay to cheat; they see nothing wrong about that. Yet, whatever their attempts to justify themselves (speak about how they do it), such behavior has a name. It is lack of integrity, or, rather, dishonesty. What do you think of it and of the motto, "Why fail if you can cheat?"

6. What does D. Waitley mean by saying that integrity (like charity) begins at home? Find at least six recommendations he gives to the parents who care and who wish their children to become the best they can be.

How does he re-word the familiar saying "Actions speak louder than words"? How is it related to the parents' modeling good behavior? What would his most important commandment for parents be if he were to write the whole ten of them?

7. Why does D. Waitley use so strong a word ("tragically") when speaking about the mistake parents make when they raise their children with a special-group mentality?

8. Read the last three lines of the chapter until you can quote them from your memory.

Now that you know what this chapter is about, complete the frame using the model:

Integrity is keeping your word whatever it costs you. Integrity is standing by your friend... Integrity is... Integrity is also...

9. Read the poem "Listen to the children". Maybe this poem will help you make an understanding parent, a true educator and a friend to your kids when your day comes; what do you think?