What Every 12 Year Old Should Know (Full Version)

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Sunnymom -> What Every 12 Year Old Should Know (5/13/2008 7:54:41 AM)

I just blogged about this idea, and inspired by the thread about Mary and Jesus co-sleeping, thought I'd post the bullet points here for discussion if anyone is interested.

Luke 2 gives us some details of Jesus Christ at 12 years old. Other than that, we don't know anything specific about His life until He is 30 and starts His full-time ministry. So in the passage, starting at verse 41, we see What Every 12 Year Old Should Know-

* That mom and dad are faithful to their principles.
* Enough about self-reliance to survive for three days without parental oversight.
* To be able to sit and listen, and intelligently discuss important issues with adults.
* To respect and obey their parents.
* To increase in wisdom and physical well-being.
* To be respected by God and his fellowman.

I think it's neat to get this little glimpse of who He was as a boy, and I thought these were some worthy goals with which to guide and inspire my kids.



Sideways -> RE: What Every 12 Year Old Should Know (5/13/2008 9:07:09 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Sunnymom
* Enough about self-reliance to survive for three days without parental oversight.


Now that would get CPS called these days in a heartbeat, unless you classified him as a runaway, but Mary and Jesus just assumed he was with other members of the group.

Reminds me a little of the thread about the kid who took the subway home by himself.



Sunnymom -> RE: What Every 12 Year Old Should Know (5/14/2008 6:46:00 AM)

I don't see how teaching self-reliance would be of concern to CPS, and I don't suggest dropping one's child off in Poughkeepsie with $5 and telling them to find their way back to Cleveland.

The implied goal is that by 12 yo, a child know how to take care of the necessities of life- food, clothing, and health- and enough about how to get help if they were even separated from their parents for any reason, they could survive for an extended period of time.

It isn't necessarily something that could be tested, at least not for a three say stretch, but having kids do some of the shopping, plan and prepare meals, be responsible for their belongings and hygiene, be able to understand how to find necessary information, and knowing to stay calm and not panic in an emergency would all go very far in a 12 yo being able to take care of themselves.



Sideways -> RE: What Every 12 Year Old Should Know (5/14/2008 6:56:31 AM)

Honestly, my post was more tongue in cheek, but I don't think I came off that way.

But you're right, a 12 year old should know how to plan a menu, get help if need be, find their way through public transit... that sort of thing.



garsyt -> RE: What Every 12 Year Old Should Know (5/14/2008 7:11:07 AM)

quote:

* That mom and dad are faithful to their principles.
* Enough about self-reliance to survive for three days without parental oversight.
* To be able to sit and listen, and intelligently discuss important issues with adults.
* To respect and obey their parents.
* To increase in wisdom and physical well-being.
* To be respected by God and his fellowman.


The only thing I would add to that list - and maybe it's already covered in points #2 and #4 would be -- To ask questions and get answers when needed. To NOT assume that they've got it all figured out.

Good list!

Blessings,

Garsy



momof4 -> RE: What Every 12 Year Old Should Know (5/14/2008 7:16:31 AM)

I think those are great things for a 12 yr old to know. My 12 yr old dau loves to plan menus and cook. She made me pancakes with strawberries on top for Mother's Day, and served me breakfast in bed. I knew it was coming, b/c she kept saying all day Sat, "Now don't get up early like you usually do tomorrow, Mom". So even tho I needed to be up puttering around with last minute Sunday School preparations, I stayed in bed as I'd been told so she could "surprise" me! I know she could get home from school or the main shopping area that we go to if she had to, on the city bus, as we have talked about that many times, "just in case". The bus tat goes right by her school is the same # as the one that goes by here, but she knows to take the "3A", not the 3B, as only the 3A will bring her close to home. Where her school is, both 3A and 3B take the exact same route, and then they branch off b4 they get to our neighborhood.



Sunnymom -> RE: What Every 12 Year Old Should Know (5/14/2008 7:32:55 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: garsyt

quote:

* That mom and dad are faithful to their principles.
* Enough about self-reliance to survive for three days without parental oversight.
* To be able to sit and listen, and intelligently discuss important issues with adults.
* To respect and obey their parents.
* To increase in wisdom and physical well-being.
* To be respected by God and his fellowman.


The only thing I would add to that list - and maybe it's already covered in points #2 and #4 would be -- To ask questions and get answers when needed. To NOT assume that they've got it all figured out.

Good list!

Blessings,

Garsy

I thought one of the tremendous things about that passage is that Jesus sat and listened and asked questions. I wonder what kind of questions he was asking, KWIM?

But that is the attitude that I want my kids to have, and it is nice to have Jesus as an example of a young boy. Kids don't always 'relate' to Jesus as a grownup, and sometimes they see the Christian life as something that adults do. It's great for them to see Jesus (God manifest in the flesh) being humble and inquisitive. When you think of all the things your average 12 yo boy would do if he had the power of God.....[;)]


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Sunnymom -> RE: What Every 12 Year Old Should Know (5/14/2008 7:34:55 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Sideways

Honestly, my post was more tongue in cheek, but I don't think I came off that way.

But you're right, a 12 year old should know how to plan a menu, get help if need be, find their way through public transit... that sort of thing.

I thought maybe you were being [8D], but I wasn't sure. And it also reminded me of the boy on the subway story.

My second-born is 11, so this Bible study is timely for me right now, and you know I just love to share...[:D]



peculiar_lady2 -> RE: What Every 12 Year Old Should Know (5/14/2008 10:49:59 AM)

quote:

I thought one of the tremendous things about that passage is that Jesus sat and listened and asked questions. I wonder what kind of questions he was asking, KWIM?

well, according to one teacher I have heard discuss this, he was playing Bible "word games" so to speak with the wise minds that sat around and did this all day long...and he was so knowledgeable that the Bible says he was baffling them. He definitely understood and had a wisdom of the Bible greatly beyond that of most 12yo boys....or most men as a matter of fact, because not all men got to just sit in on those word game sessions. They would sit around for days (or weeks) at a time and pick apart word by word the Bible, what the meaning was, comparing scriptures and their meaning and pitting one against another to find the real meaning in what was written. I have heard a "mock" version of this before, and it was quite enlightening. To participate they not only had to know the word backwards and forwards (so to speak) they had to be able to pick any word and immediately know all the scriptures that mentioned that word in the first five books of the Bible. It was a very fast-pased "game" that still goes on today from what I have heard.



momof4 -> RE: What Every 12 Year Old Should Know (5/15/2008 7:05:59 AM)

I have always assumed he was probably going thru the prophecies in Isaiah and Psalms, etc, about himself, and asking them if they thot this was going to be fulfilled soon, and how they thot that would happen. Maybe not, but I just thot that's probaby what he would be interested in. Or maybe he was going thru the Law and asking them "what does this really mean?" as in : hating someone is the same as murdering them, etc. It's fun to seculate on just what was holding their interest for three days, so much so that they didn't even seem concerned about where his parents were! Some kid from out of town is sitting there for days, and they don't even try to find where his parents are? Hmmmm... THEY are te ones who should have CPS called on THEM.



kernsfamily -> RE: What Every 12 Year Old Should Know (5/15/2008 9:43:09 AM)

I had my very first job when I was 12 years old (and, no, I am not even that old...just 40)....
A local country club had a great and very organized "caddy" program at their golf course for kids/teenagers. Made ALOT of money as a caddy....and walked ALOT!
Oddly enough, that was the summer of 1980, when the movie "CaddyShack" came out.

Respect & Obey parents? If that isn't happening WAY BEFORE they get to 12, you're gonna be in trouble!

quote:

* Enough about self-reliance to survive for three days without parental oversight.


Hmmm...i read the passage from the link in the OP about this one.....it is in reference to the fact that Jesus was 'left behind' for 3 days...

the "conclusion" ASSUMES that He was totally "self reliant", and wasn't taken care of by any of the adults he was teaching...and perhaps could have had a "sleepover" somewhere. While there was no "parental oversight", there could have definitely been sufficient "adult oversight".....

sure, that would be making 'assumptions'....but, the person who came to this conclusion is making assumptions, as well.

I remember working somewhere, back in '92 or so, a co-worker and I were talking about "church things"....whatever church he went to, strictly adhered to a "rule" that NO child under the age of 12 could "accept Jesus" as their Lord & Savior. Could not get baptized. And, even if they could "prove" that they had a complete understanding...until they were age 12, it just "didn't count"...



Sunnymom -> RE: What Every 12 Year Old Should Know (5/16/2008 2:00:38 PM)

quote:

the "conclusion" ASSUMES that He was totally "self reliant", and wasn't taken care of by any of the adults he was teaching...and perhaps could have had a "sleepover" somewhere. While there was no "parental oversight", there could have definitely been sufficient "adult oversight".....

sure, that would be making 'assumptions'....but, the person who came to this conclusion is making assumptions, as well.


'Self-reliance' doesn't mean that one can't ask for help. He obviously knew how to fend for Himself-which for a modern day child might mean finding where the facilities are, knowing how to use public transportation and pay phones, procuring food and shelter, and profiling adults to ascertain who would be safe to approach for help etc...

We obviously don't know the specific details of what He did 24/7 for three days, but I don't see anything in those bullet points that isn't a possible or beneficial goal for a 12 yo.

Again, just for the record, I am not suggesting that anyone drop their kid off with two paper clips and a pack of gum to see if they could do a Survivorman episode.



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