Raising kids to care about honor and integrity

1w ago1 min read

My oldest came home with a test grade that he could have gotten away with not telling us about. Instead he brought it straight to us and admitted he didn't study. Instead of getting mad I told him I was proud of him for being honest. We talked about what he needed to do differently next time. His mother thought I was crazy for not punishing him but I told her he already knew he messed up. What matters is that he came to us with truth. That's the kind of son I'm trying to raise. Anyone else prioritize this stuff?

3 comments167 views

Comments(3)

JJake M.New Dad6d ago

Exactly what I'm trying to teach my kids. It's not about the grade, it's about doing the right thing when nobody's watching. That's the foundation of everything else.

AAlex R.New Dad1w ago

Man, that's the moment right there. With four kids I've learned that catching these integrity moments early makes everything easier down the road. Did you reward him for being honest about the grade, or just acknowledge it? I find that recognition matters more than consequences sometimes.

JJasonRegular1w ago

This is huge. My oldest did something similar last year and I almost missed it because he was trying to 'handle it himself.' We had a long talk about how honesty builds trust, and honestly it changed how he approaches mistakes now. The fact that your kid told you unprompted says you're already doing something right.