Our theme this week in talking to our students was practicing loyalty at home was good for learning how to be loyal outside the home, with your friends, school, band, sports team. When we are loyal to our family we are in effect saying to the family I will support you, contribute to the well being of the group and do whatever I am able to help our family out.
For our children to learn about loyalty we as parents will demonstrate what that looks like, not just by setting the example – but also by being sure that our children know that our action is a way of showing loyalty to others in the family, saying it out loud. All parents have given up something we would like to do or need to do to be there for our child’s swim meet, baseball game or other event. When we do an act of loyalty, for our children to learn the lesson we can tell them,
“I want to be there for you.”
“You can depend on me being there.”
“I will always be there for you.”
“I am supporting you in all that you do.”
Making sure they hear these words, connected to the action will begin to let them know that loyalty to family members does not just happen in difficult times or when there is a crisis. We are loyal all of the time.
Balanced Life Skills is helping our students understand loyalty and opening the conversation for parents to have with their children on this key life skill.