I’ve seen this short video a few times on Facebook recently and I don’t know whether to laugh or cry when I see it. The child is cute and the temptation is obvious.

The problem is with the unwitting encouragement for the child to do what is giving him so much attention. Of course he will keep going after the glass. Even a child can recognize the difference between a “no” that is serious, and a “no” that is a dare. The mom’s chuckle at the end further reinforces to the child that the right thing to do is to go after the glass.

How often have you seen parents chuckle over their children’s misbehavior or use of language they should never have been exposed to in the first place? We tell children it is wrong, but laugh when they do it.

What else needs to be said? We need to be giving our children positive role models and firm correction when discipline is needed. Our generation has a long way to go to get back to the firm foundations we once had. But rather than despair over the gap, let’s resolve to start moving in the right direction.