Page 40 - March 2020

LOVE LETTERS

Teach LYVE Not Lying to Kids

Dottie Love, DTM and Leeza Carlone Steindorf

The sound of breaking glass catapulted Leeza get mad. How’s that sound?”
into the living room where her five-year-old “Promise?” asked her daughter.
daughter, Leah, was playing. Shards of blue, “Absolutely”

broken glass scattered the floor. Her daughter, We all have asked ourselves: Why do they
innocent-looking, stood within a foot of the mess. lie? Don’t they trust us? You should know that
“I didn’t do it, Mama!” burst from her mouth. lying is not human nature. Lying is a learned
As Leeza cleaned up the mess, she felt the habit or, better said, we teach our children to

strong desire to understand not how the vase was lie. Deep breath …
broken, but why her daughter would lie about it. Leeza is not only a dear friend but a fellow
Leeza asked why. Toastmaster and author of the book, Connected
Her daughter muttered, “Because when I tell Parent Empowered Child. Having spent time

the truth you get mad … and I don’t like that.” with her and her kids, I’ve seen firsthand how
Recovering quickly, Leeza thought smugly – powerful her tools and teachings are.
no problem. This is an easy fix. “Tell you what. According to Leeza, teaching children
From now on, you tell me the truth and I won’t how to be honest is not a one-shot deal, but a

process. Believing your
children will help them
feel trustworthy and know
that you are dependable,

no matter what. Finding
alternative responses to
anger and using more
impactful tools grows

your parenting toolbox.
Applying consequences
instead of punishment
helps nurture behavior

that feels good and
teaches to respect others
and grow into their full
and positive potential.

40 ONE COMMUNITY