Do We Practice What We Preach?

I know we’ve all seen this happen with other parents and we’ve all probably done it once or twice ourselves too. How many times, as a parent, have you told your child they need to follow rules and then broken a rule that has been set for you?

It might be something as small as driving a mile or two (or kilometers, as we have them in Canada, but we spell it kilometre) over the speed limit or parking in a no parking zone for just that one second while you check to see how busy the nail salon is. I know I’m guilty of it, but have you thought about how those little rule-bending times look to your children? How many times have you heard or thought to yourself, things like “Rules are meant to be broken.” or “A cop won’t stop you for going just a few miles over the speed limit.” Sends a pretty mixed signal to our kids doesn’t it?

Take a look at it through their eyes the next time you tell your child to make his bed every morning, but leave yours unmade all day long. Even the rules we consider are ok to bend and stretch can make a huge difference in how our children perceive the bigger rules that really can get them in trouble.

Come join us at the forum to discuss adults following directions and other mom chit chat.