My 8 year old asked me today if I've ever broken the law. I told him the truth - made some dumb choices as a kid, got caught, faced consequences, learned from it. Wasn't proud of it but I wasn't gonna lie either. My wife thought I should have sugar coated it but I believe kids need to see that real men own their mistakes. Anyone else take this approach to parenting?
That's hard but also the right call. Eight is old enough to understand that parents aren't perfect. Did you talk about how you learned from those mistakes or just lay it out there?
This is important stuff. He'll remember that honesty way more than if you'd just said no. Being real with our kids builds actual trust, not just obedience.
Respect for being honest with him. A lot of dads would sugar coat it. Kids need to know we're human and we mess up but we own it. That teaches them more than pretending to be perfect.
This is the kind of parenting that sticks with them. My dad did something similar when I was around that age and I remember thinking 'oh, my dad's actually human.' Makes a difference.
Good on you for not sugarcoating it. Kids respect honesty way more than they respect the sanitized version of their parents. Sounds like you're teaching him that people mess up but own it.
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That takes guts to be honest like that. I try to do the same with my two, though sometimes I wonder if I'm giving them too much reality too early. How did he react? Did he seem disappointed or did he appreciate the honesty?