If we are to root out corruption in Uganda, start from your home
Talk of training children to tell lies without blinking. Or how else would you describe a parent who tells lies with a straight face in the presence of children?
Talk of training children to tell lies without blinking. Or how else would you describe a parent who tells lies with a straight face in the presence of children? Can you imagine yourself ‘stretching the truth’ in the presence of your child and expecting the same child to be honest? Those lies we tell within the earshot of our children can be poisonous. We shock our children with double standards when we preach the gospel of water and gulp bottles of wine right before them.
I recently accompanied a friend as she was taking her two teenaged children back to school. When we were about to reach the school, her phone rang and she parked by the roadside to answer.
“Yes, I am in office right now and preparing for a staff meeting. I have already worked on the document and I’ll e-mail it you in the next few minutes,†she said before switching off her phone to avoid further disturbance.
I was shocked and embarrassed. Her daughter, seated next to her looked at her in utter disbelief as she reversed to drive off like she had done nothing strange. After five minutes, my friend’s daughter broke the silence and wondered why her mum had to tell such a plain lie.
Many parents tell such lies without understanding its consequences on the child’s character. Have you ever instructed your child to tell visitors that you are not around when you are actually in the bedroom? Telling lies before children is poisonous and can have far-reaching consequences on the child’s character formation:
l Building a child’s character requires consistency. Do not teach truthfulness and act dishonestly. Telling lies before children while condemning them for not telling you the truth is ridiculous.
l Children might not be good at listening to you, but they will never fail to imitate you. Your actions scream so loudly that the children can hardly hear your words.
l The best way to teach your child the value of honesty is to uphold the truth in your family at all times. Children who live by dishonesty cease to value the truth and will tell lies often.
l Children get confused when they receive mixed messages from the environment. How else would a child feel in a society where pastors preach truthfulness while parents tell lies before their children? Whose example should be emulated? Since you are a hero to your child, your influence remains paramount.
An ideal home must have a moral culture that governs family members. Did you know that the moral filth in our society is a reflection of our homes?
We must strive to bring up a generation that can stand for the truth with sincerity. If we are to root out corruption and dishonesty from our midst, it must begin from our homes. Corruption or no corruption, you and I are responsible! Play your part.
jwagwau@newvision.co.ug
077631032
I recently accompanied a friend as she was taking her two teenaged children back to school. When we were about to reach the school, her phone rang and she parked by the roadside to answer.
“Yes, I am in office right now and preparing for a staff meeting. I have already worked on the document and I’ll e-mail it you in the next few minutes,†she said before switching off her phone to avoid further disturbance.
I was shocked and embarrassed. Her daughter, seated next to her looked at her in utter disbelief as she reversed to drive off like she had done nothing strange. After five minutes, my friend’s daughter broke the silence and wondered why her mum had to tell such a plain lie.
Many parents tell such lies without understanding its consequences on the child’s character. Have you ever instructed your child to tell visitors that you are not around when you are actually in the bedroom? Telling lies before children is poisonous and can have far-reaching consequences on the child’s character formation:
l Building a child’s character requires consistency. Do not teach truthfulness and act dishonestly. Telling lies before children while condemning them for not telling you the truth is ridiculous.
l Children might not be good at listening to you, but they will never fail to imitate you. Your actions scream so loudly that the children can hardly hear your words.
l The best way to teach your child the value of honesty is to uphold the truth in your family at all times. Children who live by dishonesty cease to value the truth and will tell lies often.
l Children get confused when they receive mixed messages from the environment. How else would a child feel in a society where pastors preach truthfulness while parents tell lies before their children? Whose example should be emulated? Since you are a hero to your child, your influence remains paramount.
An ideal home must have a moral culture that governs family members. Did you know that the moral filth in our society is a reflection of our homes?
We must strive to bring up a generation that can stand for the truth with sincerity. If we are to root out corruption and dishonesty from our midst, it must begin from our homes. Corruption or no corruption, you and I are responsible! Play your part.
jwagwau@newvision.co.ug
077631032