TEACHING INTEGRITY
Homebodies
By Cheryl Gochnauer
Cheryl@homebodies.orgCopyright 2004
I had just finished paying for my Chinese lunch - a
personal favorite - and was heading for
my table when I
realized I hadn't been charged for my drink. I
immediately went back to the counter and paid the
proper
amount.
The cashier was surprised I would even mention it. I'm
surprised anyone would assume my integrity could
be
bought for $1.29.
I suppose it happens everyday. Whether by accident (a
checker overlooking an item) or by
design (stashing an
unpaid item in a purse), harm has been done.
Rationalizing that the store charges too much anyway
and
everything works out in the end is silly. Any child
will tell you: It's stealing.
At least they will until we teach
them differently.
This is a tough subject, isn't it? It's tough for me,
too. The drink thing was pretty clear-cut,
as far as
I'm concerned. But what about the 15 other ethical
decisions I made today?
In a world where boundaries
are constantly changing,
defining "integrity" can be challenging. But most of us
know it when we see it.
Here
are three ways to help cultivate integrity in our
kids:
MODEL HONESTY. We can't expect our children to be
truthful
with us if we are not honest with others.
TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. Children have a natural tendency
to cover up mistakes
- as do many adults. By `fessing
up regarding our own errors, we teach little ones the
first step in turning around
a bad situation.
EXPECT KIDS TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT. If we consistently
pursue integrity, our children will follow.
Establish a
pattern of behavior that assumes everyone will do the
right thing, and soon the walk will mirror the talk.
Cheryl Gochnauer does not assume responsibility for
advice given. All advice should be weighed against
your
own abilities and circumstances and applied
accordingly. It is up to the reader to determine if
advice is safe
and suitable for their own situation.
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