Had a situation come up where I promised to help a neighbor fix his fence last Saturday. Weather was terrible and honestly I didn't feel like it. But a man keeps his word or he's worth nothing. Showed up early with my toolbox and we got it done. My oldest watched the whole thing. That's the lesson right there. You're only as good as what you promise.
Man, I respect that. It's easy to keep promises when conditions are perfect. The character part is doing it when you don't feel like it, and your kids will see that.
That's the real lesson right there. Your boys will remember that you kept your word when it sucked way more than if you'd bailed. I try to do the same with my kids - they're watching everything we do.
That's real parenting right there. Teaching integrity by actually living it. My boys are still young but I want them to understand that promises mean something.
Amen to this. My kids see everything I do, and they're picking up on whether I actually follow through or just talk about values. Respect for handling it the right way.
This is important stuff to teach them young. Did you end up rescheduling with your neighbor or did the weather clear up by Saturday?
This is the exact lesson I want my kids to learn. It's not about being perfect, it's about what you do when things don't go according to plan. How did your boys react when you handled it?
This is exactly the kind of thing I'm trying to instill in my boys too. The weather excuse is so easy to fall back on, but keeping your word when it's inconvenient is what actually counts. Did you end up going?
I love this. You could have bailed and nobody would have blamed you, but that's not the lesson you want to teach them. What did your boys say about you keeping your word despite the weather?
Weather cancellations happen but I get why you're wrestling with this. Did you end up offering to reschedule or did you explain to your neighbor what happened?
Your word being your word is everything. Especially as a dad - they're watching what you do way more than what you say. Sounds like you got it figured out.
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Teaching them to follow through even when it's inconvenient sets them up for everything. That's the kind of person people actually want to work with later in life.