| by
Barbara Joy Clarke
CHARACTER
is a belief in an
absolute system of right and wrong, combined with the will to do
what is right regardless of the cost. Therefore, a person with
character will say, "What's the right thing to
do?" and a person with NO character will say, "What's in
it for me?". You automatically have respect for a person
with 'character'.
Character
deals with the matters of the heart--the inner you, not the outer
you. The foundation of a person is the character. When
you are an adult, you should proudly be able to say…I'm a person
of character, I don't do what's wrong".
In
the past, society defined success in terms of character--what a
person stood for, what a person believes, and the condition of the
heart of the person. Unfortunately, in today's society, the
shift is from character to
achievement, to performance, to doing. It's no longer what the
condition of your heart is, it's how well you perform. We are
living in a culture today when we come to a fork in the road where
we have to choose character over achievement, most choose
achievement. When that happens, there is an automatic change
in a person's ethics or values.
We
are slowly eliminating from our thinking and our line of sight the
very thing we need most as individuals and as a nation.
Why is it
important for parents to build 'character' in their children?
Your
children need to know within their hearts what is 'right' and what
is 'wrong'.
Children
who have been taught 'character' by mom and dad automatically know
'right' from 'wrong' and have the will to practice what is the right
thing to do regardless of the cost to them.
The
key is to instill in your children the very necessary "moral
and value" system that will build character and discipline.
This will enable your children to make the 'right choices' in their
lives and have the will to practice them when pressured by outside
influences, namely peer pressure.
Here are
some A-Z guidelines:
A
is for Accountability - Hold your children accountable for their
behaviour.
Making
your children accountable for their behaviour teaches your kids
right from wrong.
It also teaches your kids that we
are all allowed to make choices and that you expect them to make the
right choice because they are a person of 'character'. All
children who have character make the right choice…guide your
children to make the right choice. He will quickly learn to be
accountable for their behaviour and make the right choice.
C
is for Character - Help your son or daughter become a person with
character, to be able to know right from wrong and have the will to
practice it.
"Our
society desperately needs men and women of 'character'. "
This profound statement was made by
me as a wake-up call to all parents worldwide as a result of the
violence and killings at Littleton High School in Colorado.
Children with 'character' know
automatically in their hearts that being violent is not the right
thing to do
Our
society is the most informed and well educated society by far, yet
unfortunately, drug use of our young people is on the rise.
More parents are becoming alarmed and concerned then ever before and
asking themselves the question…"Gosh, I hope my child doesn't
do drugs and become a burden on me and society". A child
of character knows within their heart that it is "cool" to
say NO to drugs.
He
or she will NOT be influenced to take drugs because mom and dad have
taught him/her 'character', it's as simple as that!
F
is for Forgiveness - Practice forgiveness regularly and teach
the importance of it.
Teaching
your children to forgive others is the best way to achieve peace of
mind and live a stress-free life.
A great example of this is as
follows. Your daughter has had a disagreement with her friend
and swears she will never talk to her again. Ask her to forgive the
friend and forget the episode.
H
is for Humour - Make sure you keep your sense of humour.
Laugh with your children often.
Laughing
with your children as often as you can is not only enjoyable for you
and your children but more important it is very healthy as well.
Laughter gets rid of impurities and is good for everyone's
well-being. Children come out with funny things and are a joy
to behold.
N
is for No - Use it and mean it.
We
all know it's difficult to say NO to our children at times, but
saying no when you think the occasion requires it, is a must for all
parents. Do not let your children intimidate you. Just
in case you didn't know it, your children are smart you know and
know all the tricks to get mom and dad to change their minds
R
is for Respect - Show your children due respect.
When
talking to your children, talk to them nicely to show them that you
feel they are worthwhile people. Do NOT shout, scream or yell
at your children. Parents must set the example, so their
children will learn from their example. Don't ever forget,
parents, children watch you, they want to be like you.
Remember also…children are just little people, extensions of what
we ourselves once were, they don't know any better…it's up to mom
and dad to teach them and guide them so they will know better from
your example, it's as simple as that.
Author's
Biography:
Barbara
Joy Clarke is a qualified educator, educating both parents and
children for over 30 years. Her parenting guidebook evolved at
the request of parents themselves who were confused about what to
teach their children. Barbara Joy listened to parents and has
written an outstanding A-Z Self-Help Parenting Guidebook for all
parents worldwide regardless of race or religion She has appeared on
radio, television and her book reviewed in magazines. Barbara
Joy and her family live in Ontario, Canada. She
has received the prestigious national and international Parent to
Parent "Adding Wisdom" Award due to her awesome work in
helping to make this world a better place for all families and
individuals.
To
discover more important facts on HOW TO HAVE AMAZING KIDS, visit her
website at http://www.guideyourchildren.com
Always
Remember……A Child's BEST Advocate is always an informed and
educated PARENT. |
