How Promises You Don’t Keep Can Hurt Your Children’s Lives

When we promise something to our children and we don’t deliver, the consequences can be disastrous. For us, adults, a simple expectation created and not met may mean nothing, but for children, it can convey the idea that they are not important to their parents. Little ones can spend years remembering broken promises, and if you don’t want to be seen by your child as a “liar”, it’s best to keep your word at all costs.

We, from awesome.clubwe decided to investigate in depth what happens to children when their parents don’t do what they promised.

We teach our children that it is essential to keep the promises we make, but sometimes we are unable to do the same. When you tell the little one that something will happen, but it never happens, technically it is a “lie”, and your child will easily come to that conclusion. Try to remember the last time someone promised you something and didn’t deliver. Did it hurt? Now imagine feeling many times worse—this is how children can feel when they are let down by the most important people in their lives.

Of course, no one wants to hurt their own children’s feelings by breaking a promise that had been made. Still, children may feel that they are not important to you, as they interpret the things that make a difference to them to be placed at the bottom of the priority list, ending up forgotten. Relationships take dedication, and by keeping your word despite obstacles, you become a true hero in the child’s eyes, and an example to follow.

Parents are seen as role models by their children, and when they break the promises they make, they lead children to think that they can follow the same pattern of behavior. Little ones may think: “If my mother (or my father) doesn’t keep her word, why can’t i do the same?” We don’t want our children to grow up to be adults who don’t care about being consistent; but when we don’t give due weight to the promises we make, we encourage children to do the same.

When we do what we commit to, we instill confidence and trust in our children. And when such trust is broken, children can feel lost, especially when they are still too young to understand the concept of making and keeping promises. Eventually, children may end up losing respect for you and what you say, as they will realize that promises don’t come with action.

But does all this mean that you shouldn’t promise anything to your children? None of that. Avoiding making promises indicates that you are not ready to commit in a relationship with other people, with children in particular. Parents who avoid making promises may raise children without the confidence to take risks. By promising and delivering what was agreed, parents show children that they have someone to trust, someone willing to go out of their way to support them. Just make sure you make promises you can keep, and do your best to keep your word.

Do you usually keep the promises you make to your children? Remember how your parents handled the commitments they made? Comment!