Building a culture of respect in your family.
Everyone wants to build a culture of respect in their household. Especially if you are the parent. It seems like kids today are not taught respect for authority today and this attitude will not serve them well in life. If kids think they are the ultimate authority in their lives, they will have trouble holding a job, loving their spouse, and worshipping their God.
One of the most important things we can do as parents is teach our kids to respect and honor authority.
Here are a few tips for building a culture of respect in your family:
- Talk about it
This chat will be a great foundation for you to go back to when talking about respect and authority. Remind them that all authority is given by God and that we all live under some kind of authority and it is our job to be respectful always. - Model it
Point out to them the authorities that you have in your life and act and talk about them with respect. No need to bash the government, your boss or your parents in front of your kids (or at all). They will pick up how we treat those in authority above us. Also, don’t forget to talk to your kids with respect. - Act respectable
Be a person that is easy to respect. Take care of yourself. Be precise with your words. Don’t slack off and be hypocritical. Do the chores you expect them to do. Lead by example and be a man of stature. Hold your head high. - Insist on it
If your children disrespect you or each other, don’t let it slide. Tell them, “we don’t treat each other that way” or “we are a family of respect and that wasn’t respectful.” - Address it
When they are disrespectful, have established consequences and carry them out. More chores for whining about chores. Loss of privilege. Making it right with a sibling. Apologizing for sass and saying 3 kind things. - Role Play
If they are having a recurring situation with a teacher in school or sibling, choose a quiet time to role play. You be the kid and they can be the teacher and then switch. Help explore different solutions to different conflicts or situations.
As with everything, consistency is key. Start young and continue to hold the line on this teaching. Remember that what you say is much less important than what you do.
