|
When we talk about issues with our children, we
typically go over the common things like staying away from drugs and
alcohol, don't talk to strangers, or let your parents know where you
are at all times. The one thing that gets missed much of the time is
the importance of telling the truth. "The truth shall set you
free" may not always be the case, but it certainly speaks for a
person's character at a time when they may need it the most. If we
instill this value in our children at a young age, then it won't be so
difficult to expect that of them when they are older.
Lying is a common defense and self-preservation
tool that kids use to either avoid consequences or "save
face." Law enforcement officers deal with people who are
untruthful, often many times during their workday. If there were more
energy placed into the importance of telling the truth, the whole
world would run a lot smoother.
The key is to establish with your children that
lying is a "no-win situation," and that when they tell a
lie, it's just like entering a room without any doors or
windows…there's just no way out. Children need to have a moral
foundation for wanting to tell the truth and what works best is to
help build their conscience at a young age. They need to have a sense
of what is right and wrong and be able to feel empathy for others.
Too much violence in the world damages our
children and desensitizes them from feelings of responsibility and
telling the truth. Lying becomes an easy and normal response for some.
Kids are very intelligent and yet very easy to influence, therefore,
we as adults, need to show them how telling the truth is not just
"an option," it's the ONLY OPTION.
|
ASKACOP.org
