How do we raise kids who possess integrity in a culture that seems to value image more than character? Like many things, integrity is more often caught than taught.
Here's a good little article on integrity and how it is passed on to our kids. I especially like the "You Might Be an Integrity Infector If" list:
You Might Be An Integrity Infector If:
- Your kids talk to you so much that you get worn out at times.
- Your kids like being with you.
- You like being with your kids.
- You and your kids joke around and laugh together a lot.
- You and your kids handle your mistakes humorously. Your kids kid you about them.
- You can talk somewhat intelligently about what’s going on in their world.
- You ask questions about what’s going on in their world.
- They ask you “why” questions. You welcome and applaud questions of any sort.
- You can handle their “why” questions without being overly threatened by them.
- They display remorse when caught in misbehavior.
- On occasion, they admit to misbehaviors even before you discover them.
- You use incidences of misbehavior to explain why correct behavior is important.
- Your kids don’t lie well. You’re able to tell when they are being dishonest.
- They’ve seen you be honest on occasions when you could have gotten away with dishonesty.
- Your kids seem to understand why you have the rules you do. They ask questions about them more than they complain about them.
I hadn't thought of that, and think you're right - that private/public behavior lining up is one form of integrity.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking there's more than one form or level - and this would be a basic one. Because when the private and public don't line up, what you get is hypocrisy.