Teach them while they are young

Are you in a position of authority? A position where you are privileged to impact knowledge on people especially small children. Then you really need to teach them the importance of being kind and giving to people who are in lack.

As a parent or care giver, you give yours toddler an edible and asks him or her to share with you but they refuse. They also refuse to share anything with others. Do you think it is right for you to always laugh it off. It may not matter to you at that moment but you need to realise that they would think they are doing the right thing if not coreected. They are kids and whatever you teach them at that stage sticks with them. They will not learn to give when they are already older no matter how hard you try because the foundation was not laid for them.

Sometimes you bargain with your child to perform house chores in exchange for money. You ask your child to wash plates for a dollar note. Who do you think will perform those house works for you in the future if you have no money to pay for the services? You might as well pay them salaries for performing their duties as your kids.

It is at a younger age that people are moulded on the right attitudes to possess. When do not teach these children the right way to behave, they might turn out to be thorns on your flesh in the future or maybe thorns on the flesh of others. You begin to show regret for not moulding them into better responsible people.

A popular story is always told around my locality about a woman who spoiled her son to a fault. When her son was younger, she paid him for every task he performed in the house and when she did not, he would take the money from her purse without informing her. She knew he takes her money but never bothered to correct it. Soon she began to get reports from neighbors that whenever they send the boy on errands, he would demand for money and if they refused to give him any, he would make sure to destroy any of their properties that he laid his hands on. His mother would always laugh it off and say, "he is being childish, he will outgrown the behaviour".

The boy never outgrew this attitude. He grew up to become a menace to the society. He stole from everyone including his mother and soon became an armed robber. He was eventually shot dead by the police. It was only then that his mother realized that her son will never be able to change for the better.

Just like the boy in this story, there are lots of people who show different levels of unmannered behaviors most of which are occasioned by their upbringings. I'm not saying that all unruly behaved individuals are products of bad parenting but most of them are. Sometimes they may not end up as menace to the society. Some of them show uncultured behaviours like being rude to people especially their elders and treating the people they consider beneath them as trash. This attitude can also be exhibited towards their parents

Imagine having a child who lacks simple respect for you. Isn't everything wrong with that especially when you are the one who has taught your child to be rude. If your child has grown up in such a way that he or she thinks it is right not to give, do you think that when you are old and lacking, you can depend on them? Even if they give you, it will be considered by them as a debt you owe which you must eventually pay back or earn their wrath.

It is better to train your child to be an embodiment of good values and behaviour so that even if they derail from the right path you have set for them. It will be known that you tried your best but they chose their own path. Your conscience will be at ease that you tried everything you could to see that you raised a responsible person.

Thanks for reading💖