Section X: Children
Passage I: Good Dwarven children come from good Dwarven parents. The dishonor of a child is also the dishonor of their parents. A disrespectful child shows a weak parent, a weak parent shows a crumbling colony, a crumbling colony shows a ruined people. To raise a child from the dust of obscurity into the fire and stone of society is a task of great respect and even greater honor. Child and parent are linked, not only through blood but through fire and stone, bringing honor and dishonor alike to one another. The light of a child stretches out into tomorrow building a better future and the shade of the parent brings the comfort and strength of the past, neither can exist without the other.
Passage II: Like fire, children are ever changing, moving from place to place, their minds easily molded, and like fire a child left unattended may bring destruction to all around. Parents must be like stone, that keeps a flame contained, so that it may provide warmth and light to those who need it. A child given proper instruction and a firm foundation will uplift their people, bringing insight and a change towards the better. A wise parent brings along a wise child, a kind parent brings along a kind child, a strong parent brings along a strong child, and a weak parent brings along a weak child. A people live and die by their children, either rising from the dust or being cast into the flames, to be forgotten by the ages.
Passage III: The honor of raising a child is not a right but a privilege, reserved for only those who truly deserve it. Too many great civilizations have fallen due to the carelessness of weak parents, raising weak children. Some are not born to raise children, you can not blame a hammer for not being an anvil, and to use it as such brings only failure. It is no dishonor to be chosen to not bring forth children, in fact, to be asked to give up this joy is an honor in itself. An honorable Dwarf fills their role, and their roll fits them well. Among many things a parent must be compassionate, adaptable, strong, loyal, kind, just, wise, intelligent, and obedient. These traits and more they can instill within their children, bringing the best out of our people.
Comments