Walking the walk

It is rather alarming to realise that as a parent I am under constant surveillance—by my own children! They observe me, scrutinise my every act and absorb the values I communicate—both intentional and unintentional.

Kevin Salwen wisely states that values are the most important thing parents pass on to their children. However, words without actions are empty words, as Dana Williams, talking about the value of tolerance, points out:

As parents it is easy to talk to kids about the values we want them to embrace and live by. It is so much harder to show kids these values.

It's not enough to just talk the talk; we have to walk the walk.

Over at Legacy Matters, Jill confirms this:

For more than a fleeting impression, values must be lived. For a lasting impression, values must be memorialized.

and suggests storytelling as a way to preserve and promote a family's values. Nowhere is this better expressed than in The Storyteller's Guide:

Storytelling connects people. It connects hearts. It helps answer questions like: Who am I? Who are my people? With what values did they live? How should I live? How should I die? What are the legacies that I want to transmit to my children and to the next generation?

If you're looking for examples of stories used to promote values Jill suggests you visit The Foundation For a Better Life where they believe: "The values we live by are worth more when we pass them on." Pass it on!