“Do what I say.”

But not what I do.

I think it would be safe to say that parents have been saying “do what I say” to their children for millennia, or even longer.

But what if the parents’ behavior do not match the stern words for their children.

“Turn off your TV!” while they return to the soccer finals. 

“Don’t waste time playing on your phone!” But they text a friend about the latest kerfuffle at work.

“You’re spending too much time on the Internet!” even as they continue gaming online.

“Talk nicely to your brother!” But the heated discussion with their neighbor carries on.

Children learn by observing. And if what parents say isn’t what they do, their children will see the disparity. They want to know why their parents are not following the rules that they have laid out. It’s pretty tough to come up with a good answer to such logic. “Because I’m your mother/father” won’t cut it.

Unless parents want a mini-rebellion on their hands, they’d be better off doing what they’re telling their children to do.