How amazing it is to watch the youth of Versailles. Their parents should be very proud of them. They are responsible, courtesy and hardworking. Then it dawned on me that they resemble their parents in their features and actions. It’s not just scientific genetics it’s also a valuable learning lesson. Children have the same strengths and weaknesses as their parents. Parents learn as much if not more from their children as the children do from the parents.
Parents watch as their children accept their height, weight, complexion and aptitude for sports, learning or socializing. As parents they want to give their children the best of everything. They want all their dreams to come true and they encourage them to reach for their dreams. Yet parents know the limitations their children must overcome because they are basically “versions of themselves”.
Parents love their children unconditionally even if they, personally, had never learned to like being the shortest one in the class or having freckles parents love their children as they are. Through their children they learn not only to accept themselves, but to love themselves. They also have the opportunity to reconcile their childhood with better understanding.
As children grow and develop parents also mature in their parenting skills. Children are encouraged to go beyond their parent’s limitations and amazingly they do. As their personality emerges they develop character through their successes, disappointments or even peer pressure. Of course the parents too experience joys and sorrows along with their children and gain insight to the enormity of their parent’s love for them. What a wonderful revelation when the parent, sandwiched between their children and their parents, comes to the realization that their parents have only wanted what was best for them. They can open their hearts and allow forgiveness for any of their parent’s parenting mistakes. Just another example of what our lives are about—doing all things with love, which includes forgiveness?
Attention members of the Versailles Vets Club and American Legion—your club needs you. Stop in “the Bunker” (the lower level) and visit with your military friends Thursday – Sunday. Consider playing cards on Thursdays evenings at 7 pm as they begin four weeks of Sheephead in February. Saturday evening join in on the Karaoke Fun with Orville from 8:30 pm – 12 am, with trivia by Shimers. Healing prayers and get well wishes to Gerogie Kemper, Fr. Carl Subler, Janet Ruhenkamp, Amy Carmen, Shari Lenox, Carolyn Poling, Hank Schlater, Cindy Cox, Tim Wills, Dan Monnin (Wilson), Joe Schmitmeyer, Dick Francis (Willowdell), Billy Hayes, Chuck Thompson, Betty Kremer, Rebecca Ahlers, Bertha Bruening, Sharon Stephens, Rusty Whittaker, Sharon Monnin and all the sick, hospitalized and homebound.
Hello to Larry Martin, Betty Kremer, Gerry Drees, Jenna Kramer, Greg Bergman, Joy Roseberry, Darold Pierron, Angie Moran, Katie Hummel, Sandy Smith, Linda Moody, Tina Barga, Sue Drees, Cathy Frank, and Georgette and Duane Smith. Also a special hello and thank you to Mike Hemmelgarn, Olivia Bruening, Crystal Hartzell, Dani Cochran, Megan Ward and all the bowling team members that did an awesome job with the pancake breakfast last Sunday. Yum!
Kudos to the Versailles School superintendent Aaron Moran and all associated with doing a fabulous job of hosting so many events on Saturday evening at the school. I attended the theater performance from DCCA which would have been held at the St. Clair Memorial Hall, if not for recent roofing issues, therefore the event was moved to the Versailles Performing Arts Center which already committed to three separate events going on that day/evening. Mr. Moran and staff had the foresight to increase parking capacity by clearing snow an additional 20’ beyond the blacktop and use volunteers to direct parking. It was a superb job that did not go unnoticed. Thanks to all involved and especially to those volunteers that worked in the cold weather for hours.
Happy Birthday wishes to Betty Kremer, Elaine Bergman, Holly Gower, Judy Drees, Dick Subler (North Star), George Treon, Chelsea Cannon, Kylie Miller, Terri Hughes, Ann Eiting, Lisa Magoto, Mary Jo Puthoff, Alyssa Miller, Jackie Kremer, Heather Zechar, Randi Smith, Karen Raterman, Betty Poeppelman, and Brenda Hole. Happy anniversary wishes to Shirley and Allen Francis, Nancy and Tom Subler (52) Helen and Ernie Hemmelgarn (66)
My sympathy to the families and friends of Donald Wampler, Agnes Knapke, and Josh Eilerman also remembering the lives of Jeremy Mescher, Bill Cromwell, Aaron Condon, Bec Berger, Marge McGreevy, Jesse Camacho, Dorothy Mumaw, Eleanor Hartzell, Gaynell Armstrong, Ken Gariety, Pat Bensman and Irene Keller.
“We never know the love of a parent till we become parents ourselves.” ~Henry Ward Beecher
“Children are our second chance to have a great parent-child relationship.”~Laura Schlessinger
Kathy Magoto is a volunteer citizen columnist, who serves Daily Advocate readers weekly with her weekly Versailles community column. She can be reached at magmon1@embarqmail.com or at 526-3798. Feel free to contact her with Versailles news and tidbits. Viewpoints expressed in these opinion pieces are the work of the author. The Daily Advocate does not endorse these viewpoints or the independent activities of the author.