In ages past there was something that seemingly was valued far higher than it is today, and that something was a ‘good name’. When people who know you well think and speak highly of you, you have achieved a ‘good name’. A good name is to be treasured for with it comes honor and credibility in the sight of your fellow man. Credibility and trustworthiness are valuable in every relationship; without trust, it is almost impossible to form a good relationship. Positive discipline is often only possible if the parent has maintained the elements of credibility and trust.
Credibility And Little White Lies -The Importance Of Trustworthiness
The Importance Of Trustworthiness- Relationships
As fathers, the importance of trustworthiness and credibility is crucial to understand in our relationship with our children. If our children cannot trust our words as being true, then our effectiveness as a parent dissolves rapidly. Our children need confidence that ‘what daddy says’ can be relied upon. No father would deliberately attempt to erode the credibility they have with their child, and yet in modern society, the actions of many accomplish just that.
The Importance Of Trustworthiness- Not Being Fun Suckers
I need to point out initially that I am a fun-loving person, ask my kids! But when I became a father I made certain decisions in agreement with my wife, about how to bring up our children. I considered whether to be completely honest with my children about the very important subjects (in a child’s eyes) of Santa, The Easter Bunny, Magic Wands, etc. Now I know some of you will be judging me as a fun sucker right about now but hear me out before you pass judgment on what I am saying.
The Importance Of Trustworthiness- Due Consideration
There are certain things in life that I value very deeply, things that for me as a father were extremely desirable to impart to my children. After consideration, I concluded that if I wanted my children to accept my word in the important areas of life, I had to have built that credibility in the smaller areas.
The Importance Of Trustworthiness- Maintaining Credibility
If I had gone along with the accepted norm of telling my kids that Santa flew a sleigh around the world on Christmas Eve, then when they discovered that it was not true, my credibility would have just taken a hit.
If I told them that a friendly Bunny was dropping off chocolate eggs in the garden on Easter Sunday, then when they found out that it was me hiding them in the bushes, then my credibility in their eyes would have taken another hit!
The Importance Of Trustworthiness- Keeping The Fun
Now I enjoy Christmas and Easter and celebrate them wonderfully with my children and their young lives were not diminished because ‘the magic’ of Santa and the Easter Bunny were taken from them. My children still enjoyed the joy of hunting for Easter eggs in the garden and the thrill of waking up and racing to the Christmas tree to open presents, they have just experienced these times without the ‘little white lies’ clouding their young minds. I have found that the ‘traditional’ meanings of Christmas and Easter have a far greater and more beneficial impact on the lives of young children.
The Importance Of Trustworthiness- Truth And Fun Together
The little white lies that many parents tell their children in the desire to give them a more ‘magical’ Christmas or Easter will eventually return as problems as their credibility begins to erode in the sight of their children. We as fathers have a wonderful opportunity to teach our children about the value of telling the truth by the example we set and can ensure that our relationship with them continues to grow stronger throughout the years ahead.
God Bless
John Nolan
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