Seven Bad Behaviors: Unacceptable Behaviors Need Correcting

Dear Readers,
Many of you may recall reading the print version of Parents, known since 1926 as a dependable monthly magazine with informative and helpful articles. The paper version was discontinued in 2022, but it continued to assist parents as a website, www.parents.com. On that website, an intriguing article written by Katherine Lee, a Health and Parenting expert and journalist, appeared on July 30, 2024. It serves as a source for the content of this post. The title: “7 Examples of Bad Behavior Parents Should Correct ASAP.” The link below will allow you to see the entire article.

CLICK HERE  to read the full article.
 
Although the Katherine Lee piece alerts parents how important it is to stop negative behaviors displayed by children, the message surely applies to actions of adults as well. After all, grownups are models of conduct for young people, so these seven behaviors should also not be tolerated in older individuals. Yes, Moms, Dads—and others—need to cut these out too.

Seven Behaviors to Correct

1. Disrespect – for example, backtalk to someone who holds authentic authority
2. Defiance – ignoring established agreements, rules of others
3. Entitlement – acting as though certain privileges are automatically deserved without      regard for others; lacking in gratitude
4. Tantrums – pouting and whining when they don’t have their way
5. Bullying – making aggressive threats, spouting insults; physical abuse
6. Lying – habitually fibbing, stretching and altering the truth
7. Cheating – acting dishonestly, unfairly in interactions with others

The good news is that the Parents article provides helpful ways to handle problem behaviors in children. The overall theme is for adults to help adjust the child’s conduct through methods that employ speaking with civility and calm politeness. The word discipline means to teach, not to punish.

The not-so-good news is that the article does not reveal how to handle these same wrongdoings in adults, but employing civility is probably a good place to start. In the end, it is important for parents to consider the above as they establish boundaries for all the individuals in their families and communities. Maintaining a civil society depends on it.

P.S. Readers may want to review the Seven Deadly Sins that are noted in the Bible. They just might have some connection to the Seven Bad Behaviors. In case you’ve forgotten, the Sins: lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, pride.