What qualities makes strength of character? Pt-3

The next quality that makes a strong character is Honesty ..This is the awareness of what is right and appropriate in your self, behavior and relationships.It means having the inner strength to be truthful, trustworthy and honest in all things . I try to gently tell my children when they have done wrong so that they learn to confide in me without fear of anger..Honesty is one of the main ingredients of a good human being. You only have to think of what the world feels when faced with a dishonest politician......

Next we come to Responsibility...... what hope do our kids have if when they become adults they are incapable of fulfilling their duties?....My children need to know what they need to do and then be responsible enough to follow through... I want my kids to know that when i make a promise i keep it no matter what..... I want them to see me doing all the things that are expected of me.....None of us is born acting responsibly. I want my children to appreciate the importance of being responsible. I want them to develop the habits to be able to act this way everyday . This means respecting others, being honest, having the ability to stand up for what they believe, and having self control.....

Along with responsibility comes self discipline.....My children need to know they are in charge of what they think, say and do  ...I have a problem with speaking before i think and this gets me in trouble..... I also have a bad temper......I could say its ok i am only human but in reality i just have a lack of self control or discipline.....I am having to retrain myself when master 5 tries to hurt me, or starts swearing or hurting himself...I try counting to 10...or i turn on my music loud..... If i don't i then start doing the same thing back to my child and what does that teach him...... I am tryng to get him used to jumping on his trampoline when he is angry or breathing deeply... at present he struggles but again i am setting the stage for some time in the future.....So many personal and relational problems are able to be avoided when a person has mastered self-control and hopefully one day this could stop him doing the things he cant help but do now.

Then we come Respect....for others and for ones self....My children know that the police are there to enforce the laws of our land.... they know there are rules to be followed both at home, at work and in the world.....My son at present has no respect for the property of others and often destroys things.. Yet my 2 yr old is very good with her own and other peoples property....I have taught my kids that no one has more or less value than them...we all are equal regardless of class, or race etc......My children always show respect by using manners everywhere they go whether it be to Nanna's or the shop..... MY son always asks to be excused from the table to show the adults respect.... the other day at a picnic he did this and my friend laughed and said his son has never worried about things like that......My friends son also doesn't say please etc or sit at the table to eat with his Dad.... I respect that is my friends choice but i also know that in my house respect also includes manners etc.....

Please go to part 4.......