| We all wish that our children should not smoke or | | | | locked room. If your spouse is around, the |
| drink, should not speak lies, should not steal, | | | | better.Don't use foul language in front of children. |
| should not have a violent nature, etc... but are we | | | | As I mentioned earlier, children try to imitate you. |
| setting a good example ourselves?Just yesterday, | | | | If you come across a reckless driver and let off |
| I was at a friend's place and his daughter came | | | | steam be careful with your words. Your child is |
| running up to us with her school calendar and | | | | listening. Never ever use foul language with your |
| asked him to put a remark for being absent for | | | | spouse and don't abuse him / her, at least not in |
| school. They had been to a close relative's | | | | front of your children. I know, we all have our |
| wedding and my friend merely wrote "Stomach | | | | problems and married life (or any other life) isn't a |
| Pain" and signed the calendar. Aren't you indirectly | | | | bed of roses. But try to confine your fights to |
| teaching the child that it is OK to lie? I have seen | | | | your bedroom and control the decibel level unless |
| so many parents protecting the guilt of their | | | | you have a totally soundproof room. I have heard |
| children by lying, I wonder what will happen to | | | | 3 year old children speaking the filthiest language, |
| them when these children start lying to their | | | | even if they probably don't know what they're |
| parents themselves!Smoking is a very bad habit | | | | speaking!Never ever let go a child who stole |
| and you must refrain from smoking, at least in | | | | something. Now, I'm not saying that if you found |
| front of children. When you smoke, your child | | | | out that your child is stealing, jump on him or give |
| watches your actions with great concentration | | | | him a tight slap. Don't even humiliate him with |
| and then even tries to imitate you. If you cannot | | | | shame. But sternly explain him that this is not |
| leave the habit, go to the terrace / verandah and | | | | right and make it crystal clear that it is not |
| smoke. If you don't have one, go for a walk and | | | | permitted. If he has stolen from a store, go back |
| take your nicotine break there. If you have a | | | | with him and make him return the item. If it is |
| spare room in your house, go there and | | | | from school, make him return it to the teacher to |
| remember to close / lock your door. So what if | | | | avoid him from public shame. Explain to the |
| your child knows that you smoke? Don't light up in | | | | teacher that you will be keeping an eye on him |
| front of him. If you are smoking and your child | | | | from repetition of the act. Follow your promise |
| comes to you, extinguish your cigarette, even | | | | religiously and keep a check on his possessions |
| you have just started (even if you're not a | | | | within his schoolbag, his cupboard, etc. Is there |
| millionaire). Remember, passive smoking is just as | | | | something he possesses that is not bought by |
| dangerous to your child's health. Don't keep | | | | you? If so, be firm in knowing from where he got |
| cigarettes lying around the house and always | | | | it from and insist on returning it. Don't accept lies |
| keep track of the number of cigarettes you have | | | | too easily, its as if you're condoning the theft. |
| (even if you're a millionaire). You don't want your | | | | Also remember, don't keep money lying around |
| missing cigarettes found in your child's schoolbag, | | | | the house even if you have money to burn. Make |
| do you? Remember one thing in your life - never | | | | him understand the value of money. Maintain a |
| ever ask your child to buy cigarettes for you, if | | | | limit on pocket money and encourage him to |
| you run out of them. If you do, be rest assured | | | | save. It is also time to think if the child needs |
| that your child will smoke, some day. You are | | | | more affection and attention at home and a |
| exposing him to all the varieties of cigarettes, the | | | | watch over his company. If all attempts fail, |
| touch, feel and smell of it, the cigarette vendor's | | | | approach a child psychiatrist.Television, movies, |
| marketing skills and the other smokers. If your | | | | games and comics also play a vital role in the |
| children ask you about your smoking habit, don't | | | | psychology of the child. If he watches a lot of |
| lie. Tell them you do smoke and have accidently | | | | brutality, he may tend to act it out. Limit the time |
| caught the habit. Don't give a reason for smoking | | | | and type of programs he watches. Encourage him |
| (like you are stressed, etc) as some day you will | | | | to watch productive programs suitable to his age. |
| get a similar reason from him. Also tell him that | | | | Although I don't watch television often, recently I |
| you are trying to quit and genuinely give it a try. | | | | have been watching some serials and was quite |
| Get an anti-smoking screensaver and install it on | | | | surprised that most of them were centered |
| your PC. You can get them free if you search on | | | | around scheming women with criminal minds. A |
| Wouldn't your children be happier if you lived a | | | | very important thing you should do is be with |
| little longer?The same goes for drinking. One | | | | your child when watching television. If there is a |
| important thing to remember - never get drunk in | | | | scene which you shouldn't want your child to see, |
| front of your children. If you are not in your | | | | distract him by asking him some question like "is |
| senses, you could speak or do something that | | | | your home work complete" and when he is |
| you shouldn't, in front of your children. You can | | | | looking at you, change the channel. If he insists to |
| even cause physical or mental harm. If you MUST | | | | watch it, firmly tell him that it is not right for his |
| get drunk, go to a bar or confine yourself to a | | | | age. |