When adults have six definitions for a word it is a foregone conclusion that it is not easily definable to young children. But thankfully, justice as we use it is very demonstrable. As we use the term, we are referring to the moral principle that emphasizes objective evaluation and equal, fair treatment of others.
If you scroll back to the first article that launched this series you might notice the emphasis we place around responsibility. So much so that three of our values represent three different key tenets of responsibility. Responsibility itself, leadership, and this week's value - self-reliance. A critical aspect we like to point out when it comes to the last item on the list is that Montessori doesn't just teach self-reliance as a concept, but rather it is at the very core of the method.
Of all of the dangers that social media presents to children, perhaps the worst is the unrealistically inflated sense of self that the culture of likes conveys. The ease with which the same machinery can crush the ego of those who do not yet have the life experience to contextualize what they are experiencing is equally appalling. The persistent forces that convey the message that our worth is defined by what our group believes is incredibly destructive.
Of all of the values we emphasize at Greystone House, frugality is perhaps the most at odds with our culture. In a day and age where we are pelted with ads and messages to buy more, many of which we do not even consciously register, the idea of balancing our inputs and outputs can seem quite odd. But ultimately, the payoff of a frugal life is the freedom to take advantage of more choices while defining our path in life.
Wisdom is a value that it can be hard to get a grip on. We all have lightbulb moments where we suddenly realize something important. The futility of a certain action, a better way to accomplish a goal, a realization that maybe others matter just as much as we do, or even a moment of quiet reflection where we realize we will never have it all figured out. These moments are frequently the foundation of our personal growth and ultimately help us make better judgments and decisions.
Collaboration is particularly critical as a value at Greystone House because it is one of the core values that lead to our founding 36 years ago. At our core we consider that one of our primary purposes is to serve as parenting partners for the families that walk through our doors. We are working parents ourselves and we know that it is not easy.
The word "values" can be difficult to define with absolute clarity. At their core though values are the beliefs put in action that help inform our path on a daily basis as well as enable others to understand who we are. When we internalize a value it actually becomes a part of who we are. An internalized value exerts itself without being called upon to do so.
The new world of global commerce is developing at breakneck speed and that requires that peoples and countries alike build the ability to change and adapt. With that in mind we as parents need to ensure that we prepare our children to be active participants in this world rather than passive subjects.
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