Lessons in Life - Accountability

Another lesson we all learn from a very early age

Is Accountability

One of the sayings I use  when correcting my children

You did the crime, Now pay the Time !!!!

No! I don't lock them in some dungeon

But if they

do wrong they know that in some way

There will be a fitting punishment

Being accountable is something essential for everyone to learn
We have to be accountable for all things
Our words, our actions, our beliefs, .........
Accountability is all about dealing with the consequences

If we don't  teach our children the value of accountability
What could happen????
At worst they could grow into the kind of person who thinks nothing of committing a crime and expecting to get away with it
At best they will grown into the kind of person who has no respect for anyone or anything and receives no respect back either.

We also have to be careful to not let the children grow up fearing consequences but actually understanding them

So what do I mean?

Example 1
My boys are constantly trying to get away with playing football in the house, I have a rule, No ball games indoors. Simple, no grey areas there at all
Imagine if I was busy elsewhere in the home, I hear a crash !!!!
They had kicked the ball into my glassware
I go into the room to be met with two boys telling me "It was him!!!: each pointing to the other
Where is the Accountability?????
I follow through with some shouting, some disappointment at them and a punishment, I receive lots of sulks!!!!

Example 2
Same situation, but what if one of the boys was to look at me as I came into the room, and say "I'm sorry it was me!!!"
We have Accountability !!!
They did wrong, they still broke a rule but they also didn't try to hide their actions they would be punished for breaking the rule but it would be less severe as a reward for their accountability

Example 3
What if one of the boys were to pick up some of my glass to take a look at it, accidentally drop and smash it???? In panic and fear of the consequences they quickly pick up the pieces and hide them in the bin, re arrange my glass and say no more about it
Where is the Accountability?????
When I do discover what has happened, as you know we parents have special antennae so we usually work out what has happened. there has to be a punishment but not for breaking the glass, but for the deceipt in trying to cover it up

Example 4
Again, same situation but instead of trying to hide the damage, they come to me and say they have had an accident, they apologise and assure me that  they didn't mean to do it
We have Accountability !!!
There would be absolutely no punishment for this, they are already upset over the affair, and they came clean right away, the fact that they were accountable in this situation would be enough for me.

Too many people in this world hold no accountability for their words or actions, we could stop this for the next generation NOW if we teach our children the value of this