PARENTAL INTEGRITY

PARENTAL INTEGRITY

Children grow in honesty when they observe their father and mother trusting each other. The virtue of trustworthiness cannot be taught, but parents can cultivate it in their daughters and sons. Even if children fail to be reliable in certain situations since their parents have established confidence in them, they can easily return to the path of faithfulness in the future.  Respect and trust between a married couple affect their children, who feel more secure and perform better in their daily lives due to loyalty and faith.

A lack of trust between parents and their adolescents or their grown children is one of the main causes of broken family relationships. A parent who displays duplicitous behaviour in front of their children is not valued as much and is not appreciated. Some parents, not realizing it is their actions that have fostered distrust among their children, become angry and accuse them of being unkind, unfaithful, or uncaring. As a result of undeserved trust from their parents, children feel insecure, lack self-esteem, and develop angrier and more aggressive behaviours. Those who lack loyalty within the family may suffer from various emotional and psychological problems, such as loneliness, rejection, and depression. Trust-challenged children can have a hard time trusting their spouses and maintaining a healthy marriage as they grow into adults.

Parents’ integrity determines the trustworthiness of their children and their ability to deal with difficult situations. Kids who grow up in a family of respect and recognition become resilient and confident in their ability to handle adverse situations. If a parent’s integrity is questioned, then their son or daughter will become distrustful of them. When parents are critical, even smart and successful individuals find life hollow and empty.  

A child can be a blessing or a burden to a family. When a mother and father inspire and witness openness and uprightness to their children, they provide the strength, identity and credibility, and such children become an asset and blessing to their parents. Children whose parents fail to act in a manner consistent with honesty and truth and who violate their dignity and respect are likely to experience distress and become burdens to their families.

Couples can take responsibility for identifying their trust issues through self-examination. Find out if they have inherited from their upbringing any elements of distrust that are causing them to doubt themselves and their partner.  Both parties can participate in this assessment and, by communicating openly, they can resolve their trust issues and create a stronger relationship.

Instead of blaming kids when they tell lies, parents should reason with them, understand their weaknesses, listen to their feelings, praise their efforts, boost their confidence, and guide them toward becoming better truth-tellers.

A father or mother is both a strength and a weakness to their children. In my opinion, parental integrity has amazing and unlimited powers. Use truth and honesty as virtues that empower your children, by applying them carefully, thoroughly, and with diligence in every situation.