Influence ( The power or capacity to cause an effect)

We are influenced by everything around us, by our families, our friends, what we watch, read or listen to.

As parents we need to be a good influence on our children by setting a good example and teaching them good from bad.

My mother always said " charity begins at home ", and to that I add good influence begins at home.

Do you show love to each other, do you show an interest  and respect for each other ?

Do you really know each other ? Do you spend some time each day with your children? Do you
know who your children's friends are ? What their interests are ? Do you set an example for them to follow?

Do your children hear you swearing, using vulgar language ? Do you condone bad manners by having them yourself , and not teaching them good manners ?

Do you teach them to not cheat or steal or hurt others ?

When your children do something bad, do you tell them they are bad, or do you tell them what they did was bad ?  If you tell them they are bad often enough and long enough, they will believe you and start to be bad because you are telling them they are. Children need to know the difference between being  and doing  bad.

When I was a little girl and would do something bad, my mother would tell me that doing bad things makes you look ugly. She knew all little girls like to be pretty and would rather do good things so they would look pretty. And boys like to be strong, so she would say," it's easy to be bad, but you show how strong you are if you are good, not bad".

Home is where all good things should begin. If our children are taught to be good at home, when they are away from home that good influence will help them be good then too.

Of course we as parents should show our children how to be good by being good ourselves.

Being a good parent is the most important job in the world. Teaching our children to be good, and showing them by our example will be the best influence we can give them.