I read the previous article about creating a Culture of Accountability. It is excellent, though it will take some work to implement.

The reason this resonated with me is that there is an atmosphere of self-centeredness that is common today. This results from not being responsible for our own behavior.

Perhaps it is because children have not been taught that we are responsible for our own behavior. It is far easier to blame someone or something else for our bad behavior. “He made me do it.” “She called me a bad name, so I. . .”

Hitting, name calling, grabbing things are all symptoms of selfishness. Wanting our own way starts as a little aggression and becomes a habit if we don’t stop it. Nip it in the bud. “No one else makes you behave badly. Instead of . . ., next time choose to . . .”

Create an atmosphere of sharing and helping.

Helping our children learn that we all have a part to play in having a happy home. We can start by asking the question, “What can I do to help?” If we are each trying to help the others in the family, we aren’t focusing on our own will and wants. Even children coming to two years old can be given things to do that will help.

This month, try to involve your children in helping around the house. Make it an enjoyable challenge to finish ‘helping’ before recreation. Bad attitudes and stubbornness result in loss of ‘fun’ time. Don’t get sucked into a power struggle to get the kids to do what they are asked to do. But do let them know the consequences of not co-operating mean loss of whatever recreation they would have had (for a limited time that evening).

This takes some planning and the will to carry it through, but the benefits far outweigh the trouble.