Telling the Truth to Children

A Peruvian friend has a problem telling his 11 year old daughter that he smokes weed. She smelled it in the car and asked him if he smoked mota, (marijuana). In Latin America, family is supreme and parents are rather protective of their children. The values of the country are conservative, to say the least.  He asked for my opinion. I shuddered at giving a response in such a delicate situation. But the reality of the truth struck me so very hard, that I expressed to him this idea, Always Tell the Truth

Telling the truth to ones children

Is probably the most important thing that a

Parent can do for his or her child

After a moment of deeper reflection

I responded

Tell your child the truth at all times

She will respect you

And your word always

The truth survives everything, including death

Why not teach children truth, so freeing and so permanent?

There is a way to tell the truth to children

In ways that they comprehend and respect

Children are naturally curious

And will learn the truth one day, nevertheless

Truth

The basis for the knowledge, wisdom and understanding

Of Life

Lies distort life, being, and what is true

And  have destroyed many lives             

And do no good, whatsoever

The truth sets us free, to live freely and fully

Nothing more important in life than the truth

Children need to know the truth

As a matter of fact, we all need to know the truth

Respect comes from truth

His daughter will always respect his word

For a man’s word is his bond

And his bond is his word

Aged family secrets don’t help either