HOW SHOULD PARENTS TEACH VALUES?

Teaching value to our children is not a theoretical rhetorics, it's in the things we say and do daily, it's no formal class.

So sometime last week, I was listening to a guest speaker on a radio programme who had a story to share on how a male teacher made passes at her at age  9.
One thing that struck with that story she shared was how she understood that she shouldn't cut corners to become the best in her class even though she wanted it. Now, this is not to say that we should not teach our children to aim high, it is a call to let our children understand that if you must aim high, you must work for it, it's call to parents to teach and model values!

In her story, her teacher who was coming on to her like an adult had noticed that she wasn't the first in the class for that term and offered her to rewrite her exams with answers availed to her in order to ensure she becomes tops of the class. In her words, the teacher said " I love you and I will like you to be the best" then he goes on to give her a peck on the cheek.

She said something very profound, 'as much as I was very interested in becoming the best in my class but I wasn't desperate. I knew that if I must become the best, then I must earn it not get it from the wrong means. She went further to say that, she knew her parents will only encourage her to do better when they see her result (9th out of 30 people). she understands that it was wrong to cheat in any way because she had not just being taught, her parents had modelled this to her severally at home.
It breaks my heart when I see parents who just give their children the impression that being tops of the class is a do or die affair.

So she chooses to say NO to this teacher, even when the teacher persuaded her. She eventually reported to her parents who ensured this teacher was sacked. (This happened in the 80s when this kind of story was not even believed from a child especially in Africa). These parents were indeed some superheroes.

Dear  parent,

You will not be with your child when they will be making life-changing decisions. The best you can do is to equip your child with the tools she needs. What values are you passing on to your child?
In my upcoming book "Connect To Correct" I elaborated on how connecting with your child helps you teach your values seamlessly. You cannot teach someone who doesn't believe in you.
The best thing that can happen to any parent is having a child who will live their values in their absence, a child who will listen to their words even when they are gone.

Your first role as a parent is to make your child believe you are his Hero/role model. Remember you will not be there at all times, commit to becoming your child's role model.

©Wendy  Ologe
Parent Coach