My Dad's Flag

Doesnt it make you feel good when you teach your children something and you later see them put it into practice? Its like all that preaching and repeating and you sometimes feel like your talking to a brick wall then all of a sudden when you least expect it they pop up and say something that makes you feel like wow they really do listen. I dont mind that my boys sometimes dont pay attention to what I am saying on occassion because that is normal behavior for 9 and 10 year old boys...especially with all these boys have been going though lately. But its a good feeling to know they do listen when it counts most. I have tried very hard to instill a sense of manners and respect for others in the children that are placed in my home. Some children pick up on it a lot faster than others and I believe that boys just tend to be a little harded to get through to than girls...that is a personal opinion however. Yesterday I went to the store and bought some flowers to take to the cemetary for my father. I took the children with me. They of course never got the pleasure of knowing my dad....my dad has been gone for a long time now. I never visit my fathers grave that I dont shed a few tears and I miss him as much today as I did when he first passed. As I knelt at my fathers grave and removed his old flowers and flag to place the news one in I noticed his flag was very worn so I didnt put it back in with the new flowers. While I was there I noticed my boys and my little girl became very quiet. They watched me. They became very somber as I placed those flowers in that vase and I began to realize what they were doing. They were behaving in a reverent way to show respect to my moment with my dad. They never uttered a word...they stood just as quietly as a church mouse. I was impressed. If my dad was looking down on us I am sure he would have been impressed too. I thought it was a nice thing that the children saw how important this moment was to me and they gave reverence to that moment. I picked up the old flowers and flag and placed them in the back of my van and we got back in to make the drive home. On the way home they were very quiet for about the first five minute then they began to ask me about my father and what kind of person he was and what was the purpose of the flag in his vase. I explained to them that my father was a disabled American Vet and he was very proud of his service in the Military and he always taught me to honor and respect the flag that so many people had died for. We arrived back home and the children started off to play. One of my boys came to the door about an hour later and he said to "by the way mom I tossed out those old flowers you left in the back of the van but i left the old flag in there." I asked him why he left the flag and only tossed out the flowers. He replied that he just didnt think it would be right to throw a flag in the trash can...he said he didnt think my dad would like that. I was speechless for a few seconds and said back to him I think your right...I dont think my dad would want it in the trash can either. So we kept the little tattered flag in the garage until such a time I can find a way to dispose of it in a more dignified manner. But isnt it nice? Children do listen. They really are like sponges...constantly soaking up all that is around them. These boys have been in my care for 3 years now. I have tried to make sure they were surrounded by positive influences and have done to the best of my ability to be a good parent to them. I love them. No matter where they may wind up living I know that part of me will go with them...and part of them will stay here with me. We have talked about what next week may bring as far as their living here with us. Social Services will make a decision next week I am sure. They have made a lot of negative threats about what they plan to do if they are forced to move from here. I have encouraged them to be cooperative, be respectful, and to continue to grow into the young men that God would have them to be. I believe that when they do leave my home...they will take with them all the little things that I have taught them....because even when I thought they werent listening...they were.