Train 'em up Right

About a week ago or so I was watching a documentary, and the phrase Latch Key Kid was mentioned. That is a phrase I had not heard in a while. I always knew it meant a child was coming home to an empty house but had not given it much thought. On retrospect, I was very fortunate to have not experienced that. My mom was always home when we got home from school. She didn’t have fresh baked cookies waiting for us like the popular TV shows, but she was there and that was comforting. We were lucky.

Did you know the concept of being a 'Latch Key Kid' traces back to a time of historical significance during World War II? I will share more with you in a moment.

My husband and I raised 4 children and they never had to be in daycare or be babysat by a neighbor or friend. I was home until the youngest was 2 years old and

Wendell was self-employed and could move his schedule as needed. I wonder if my kids realize how lucky they had it in that regard.

Last weekend my pastor mentioned that he usually came home to an empty house. His dad was an evangelist, and his mom was a hard worker herself. That got me to thinking even more about the expression. Latch Key Kid.

According to Wikipedia, the term refers to the latchkey of a door to a house or apartment. The key is often strung around the child's neck or left hidden under a mat (or some other object) at the rear door to the property. The term seems to first appear in a CBC Radio program called "Discussion Club – Topic: How War Affects Canadian Children" in 1942, due to the phenomenon of children being left home alone during World War II, when the father would be enlisted into the armed forces and the mother would need to get a job.

My home was not always filled with the aroma of fresh-baked cookies, but the comfort of having my mom at home was a constant. As we raised our own children, the luxury of being present for them, without the need for daycare or babysitters, was a blessing. I too did not often bake homemade cookies for my children after school ;0)

Proverbs 22:6 reminds us to 'start children off on the way they should go,' highlighting the long last impact of a nurturing and guiding presence in a child's life.

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” NKJV

I have often thought and less often said, that verse should be reworded just a bit, because I believe children leave the church, even if they are brought up right, I did. I believe some, not all, children shun their faith as they become young adults, but later in life, when they are older and realize how quickly time passes and how precious life is and how much we are loved by Him, then we return to our faith. At least I did. I think it should read: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will come back to it.”

The Bible consistently portrays the family as a fundamental unit, emphasizing the role of parents in providing a strong foundation.

Ephesians 6:4 encourages fathers, stating, 'Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.' ESV

This verse reinforces the idea that a parent's presence is not just physical but extends to providing spiritual guidance and moral support.

In a world where the demands on families are ever-increasing, cherish and uphold the value of being present for our children, our grandchildren, our neighbor’s children if that is what is needed.

Parents play an irreplaceable role in shaping the lives of their children. May we draw inspiration from the timeless wisdom of the Scriptures, recognizing the enduring impact of a loving and present home.

by Jeanette Stark – Thursday, January 25, 2024