Heroes as Role Models

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.  ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Veteran’s Day is the day set aside every year to honor and thank the troops who have served our country. Do you know someone – a parent, grandparent, sibling, child, or friend – who has fought in a war to defend our country? Any who have sacrificed time with their own family to allow the rest of us to keep our families safe?

These heroes deserve our thanks. Honor them by sharing their stories with your children. Because of their strength and courage, they can serve as role models in your children’s lives. When times are tough, your children can think about how brave Grandpa was or how strong Aunt Jane is; knowing that this is part of their family legacy can help them to find their own confidence.

And let’s not forget the everyday heroes in our lives. Encourage your children to recognize people who do ordinary things that make the world better for others – the person who holds a door open for someone with a child in a stroller, who visits a sick neighbor, who assists an elderly person in the grocery store, who stands up to a bully, or who speaks out against prejudice. By having role models who perform small, everyday deeds of heroism, kids are more likely to see themselves as able to make a difference in the world.

Take this day to honor the veterans of war as well as the veterans of life. Let your kids know what it means to be brave and kind in large and small ways so that they can become “everyday heroes.”