I Have a Confession... - Clarity Road

I have a confession.

Last week I was caught out by my son.

We were watching George of the Jungle for the 7^th time and we had some good ol’ fashion snack food to go with it. At the end of the movie, my son reached for the final few squares of chocolate…and I scooped them up just as quickly.

Disclaimer: he’d already had his fair share and I was dreading the sugar high to come!

A few appeals and complaints later, he got over it and we both went on with our lives.

That was, at least, until I decided it would be a lot more enjoyable to finish off the block myself than to wait for him to find it later!

I opened the foil and took a bite of its sweet milky goodness…and in walked my son. Busted.

You should have heard the protests.

Why are you allowed that and not me? I wanted some too you know! We could have at least shared!

For a minute I wondered if I was entitled to the chocolate, or if, as my son was suggesting, I was “being a hypocrite”. That was until I remembered the fact that I’d only had 3 other pieces from the block!

Nonetheless, this little exchange got me thinking about how I want to lead by example for my kids. Not in terms of who-gets-the-last-piece-of-chocolate, but on an ideological level.

As they grow into young adults, there are a few values that I hope to instil in my children.

Respect for themselves and others. Gratitude for the resources and opportunities they have. Love for their family.

I like to think that I show them these values in action every day. But I also know that there are testing times that can make leading by example difficult.

I may start to take an over-bearing family member for granted. A tough week at work might make me forget how lucky I am to have a job that I love in the first place.

Sure, ups and downs are part of what make us human. But so is courage in the face of adversity, and strength to smile through the bad times as well as the good.

All in all, this small chocolate incident made me remember two things.

Always remember to be a strong living example for my children.

Check that the coast is clear next time I want to sneak a piece of chocolate!

With every good wish,

Julie

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This week, Julie was invited to Churchie Anglican Grammar School to speak at the Year 9 Gender Summit. The Gender Summit saw boys from Year 9 welcome invited delegates from St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School, St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School, Somerville House, Moreton Bay College and Lourdes Hill College. The event engages young future leaders in issues surrounding gender equality, specifically examining the challenges that lie ahead for a more gender equitable Australia.

I Have a Confession…