Generosity is taught through generosity. Having said that, it is important to stress here that parents need not be perfect in virtue before attempting to educate their children in them. It is only necessary that they strive to practice the virtues themselves as they go about teaching them to their children. When a child questions a parent s authority to require benignity of him if the parent also has trouble with anger, the parent can respond with sincerity and truthful humility. As long as I struggle, though, I can demand that you do the same.
Children understand and can accept human frailty.
They would not understand if the parent made no attempts to improve. While this would mock their authority, it would not in any way lessen it. All Rights Reserved. Family Life Institute.