How do you teach respect when the culture doesn't support it?

5d ago·1 min read

It's harder now. I teach my kids to respect authority and their elders but then they see adults on their phones at dinner, hear people disrespecting teachers, watch men abandon their responsibilities. I try to model what a man of honor looks like but I'm swimming upstream. How are you guys navigating this? I don't want to be old fashioned for old fashioned's sake but some things shouldn't change.

6 comments179 views

Comments(6)

SSam T.Regular3d ago

The culture doesn't support a lot of things we grew up with. But your house can still be a place where respect matters. That's the best you can do.

CCarlos M.New Dad5d ago

It's an uphill battle but you fight it anyway. I'm constantly reinforcing the stuff at home even when they see the opposite everywhere else. Some days it feels like yelling into the wind but consistency matters.

KKeith L.Regular5d ago

Lead by example, man. My kids watch me more than they listen to what I say. When I put the phone down at dinner and actually talk to them, they notice. Can't control the whole culture but you can control your house.

JJakeNew Dad5d ago

That's the tough one. I try to model it myself at the dinner table, no phone stuff, and call it out when I see it. My kids see the contradiction but I think if I'm at least trying to walk the walk, it counts for something.

BBenNew Dad4d ago

This is the thing that keeps me up at night honestly. How do you teach respect when the adults around them are being disrespectful? You just keep modeling it yourself and hope that example matters more than everything else they see.

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DDannyRegular3d ago

You teach it by being that example. Your kids see you treating people with respect even when it's hard. That counts for way more than lectures about it.