Do as I say, not as I do!

Driving or walking around our streets reminds me of how more powerful actions are than words. It seems that more people are crossing streets while the lights are red or not stopping at stop signs.

As parents, our actions do speak louder than words. Jay-walking with a child indicates to her that it is alright. To a teen, if we're in a hurry, it's okay to speed or not quite stop at a stop sign.

When my teens were learning to drive, I made a point of not having a single drink if I was to be driving that evening. (I don't even drink very much.) I know the law says that over an evening I could probably have one or maybe two drinks but this was a time that my children were learning to drive.

Similarly with younger children, what messages are we sending when we say one thing yet do another.

Our society would probably be better off if we thought that children were around whenever we were about to do something that we would tell them not to do. Driving a car with a cell phone or ipod attached to our ear when we otherwise would tell them this is dangerous behaviour for them to do.

It's important to set examples. Think before you act.

Be on the same page, be consistent, saying and doing are both actions.

Do as I do should be equivalet to do as I say.