They know now a child’s adult personality is well set and formed by the age of 3. Caring parents guiding those wee lads and lassies can make all the difference.

I think nurses and teachers are very such special people. On a recent hospital stay I experienced and saw such great examples. The nurses were all so caring, so patient, so compassionate — all working 12-hour shifts. It’s so very obvious they love their work. They can go from one emergency to another, so helpful, calming and cheering us on.

It also takes a very special personality to be a teacher. I used to volunteer in a grade school, just as a teacher’s helper. So many times about all she really felt she’d accomplished was really monitoring behavioral problems, not really doing much actual teaching; and so many parents were seemingly not too concerned.

It certainly takes that God-given gift, that special heart, that talent to even keep trying, it seems to me.

I still think school officials should be allowed more control. As I grew up our teacher could spank (not beat), and if we got a spanking — usually just a swat with a ruler, etc. — we got two more (one from each parent) when we got home.

Even the Bible says (many times) — spare the rod and spoil the child.

So hug those kids and be sure to thank, pray for, and appreciate all those special people in our lives.

— Aunt Norie, P.O. Box 265, Tonganoxie 66086; auntnorie@att.net.