Prove It

One of the most-used phrases in our home is "Prove it". We hear something someone tells us that doesn't sound just right, "Prove it." We see something on TV that doesn't make sense, "Prove it" and then we research it. We read something someone says on the Internet that's laughable, "Prove it". Go on, prove it. Make me believe that what's being fed to me is true. We can, can you? We use it on everyone, nobody is exempt, including us.

I've always taught my kids to be free thinkers and not to just take someone's word for something. I've taught them that if they're not sure if something is true to research it until they feel satisfied that they have all the information that they need; but even after researching they don't have to believe something 100%. I've also taught them to question authority, and they do most of the time, but at times I have to remind them that they're allowed to speak up for themselves.

Their biggest fear is getting in trouble for asking questions or challenging someone about a fact or opinion, especially adults, and I tell them all the time they have the right to their questions and if there are consequences for them asking then we'll get it worked out. I've taught them to question friends, teachers, other adults, even me. If a teacher tells them a 'fact' and the kid in question doesn't believe it, s/he's allowed to raise a hand and ask for more back-up information to solidify the point the teacher is making. If the kid is still confused we'll research it ourselves to gather more information. We all know that schools teach us that Washington was the first president, but he really wasn't; that Columbus discovered America, but he really didn't; and that Vikings wore horned headgear, but they really didn't. All things to think about.

They know that even if I tell them something they don't quite believe they can call me on it and I'll do my best to prove it to them, and then we'll discuss any questions they have. They're smart kids. They understand that they don't have to take anything at its face value and I would be disappointed in them if they did. It doesn't make sense, though, why grown ups just automatically believe what they see and hear regardless of where they got the information. They'll just say, "Oh yeah, so-and-so told me such-and-such" and they'll run with it as if it's gospel.

That's pretty sad, especially when the source of the information isn't reliable to begin with. The kids have friends who've been known to lie about anything and everything so when those friends speak up again my kids are hard-pressed to believe what's being said. They'll ask the friend to 'prove it' and when the friend can't my kid will walk away saying, "Yeah, I didn't think so." I've had adult neighbors come to me talking crap about other neighbors and I'll just smile and nod and as soon as the talker is gone I've forgotten the information because I know there's no proof to go along with the words.

I've caught people in lies more times than I can count, including my own mother, and maybe that's why I teach my kids to be so cautious when dealing with others, even people who are supposed to be trustworthy. Maybe you think that's the wrong way to raise kids but I don't care because they need to do that. There's no reason for them to get burned in life because they put their faith and trust in everything everybody tells them. They ask me questions all the time and I give the information along with the proof they need to believe it because that's what I'd want if I were the one asking. They'll also prove what they're saying if I ask them to because they know that what they're telling me is true.

Not too many adults I know ask for proof or do research before believing what they're told, even if it's told to them by someone they think they can trust. That's crazy to me because some people that I've trusted implicitly eventually got caught in a lie and that was the end of that relationship. I can't stand lying and ask for proof when I feel it's what I need, and my kids are following that pattern, too. The thing is, we can prove the things we know and we challenge everyone else to do the same. So come on, PROVE IT!

Until next time...peace to all.