We want our kids to be confident, to learn to focus, to have self-control and to demonstrate a character of integrity.
Integrity - doing the right thing even when no one is watching - is my favorite of the Taekwondo Tenets.
It means:
To be trustworthy.
To keep your word and do what you said you would.
To be honest about finishing chores and doing homework.
To own up to mistakes rather than trying to blame others, and accepting consequences.
You may wonder:
Isn't it normal for kids to tell "little white lies" and to try to avoid getting in trouble?
Won't they outgrow it on their own?
How do we help our children develop trustworthiness & integrity?
As uncomfortable as it can be, we need to start with ourselves.
Are we a model of integrity for our kids?
How often do we "help" our children finish projects when they know it's supposed to be entirely their own work?
Do we ever treat others rudely ... in traffic, in lines at the store, when the server makes a mistake with our meal?
What do we say about others behind their backs ... about their weight, what they're wearing, their choices?
Do we sometimes tell "little white lies" to get out of social engagements, paying fines, admitting we did something we shouldn't have?
Who has ever gone over the speed limit, ignored a sign, said "no one will know ... " or shared a secret they shouldn't have?
Our children learn more from what they see us do than from what we tell them to do.
Think about your own experiences with people who say one thing and yet do something entirely different.
If we want our children to be trustworthy and to develop integrity, we need to model that behavior for them. We need to do the right thing even when we think no one is watch ... because our children are.
Courtesy - Integrity - Perseverance - Self-Control - Indomitable Spirit
