Hypocrisy

Leo Tolstoy wrote Hypocrisy in anything whatever may deceive the cleverest and most penetrating man, but the least wide-awake of children recognizes it, and is revolted by it, however ingeniously it may be disguised.

You can fool most people but usually children and animals can sniff a fake a mile away. Usually the kids have no qualms about saying it out loud too. As an adult you programme yourself to react to your surroundings. You behave in a manner that you think is accepted by those around you. But when you have one rule for yourself and another rule for others - you are a hypocrite. And a child sees it right away.

So if you are raising conscientious kids or you are a role model for kids you should be walking the talk - other wise don't talk. Children need rules to guide them and they need role models to look up to. But if the rules are changed only for certain people and their role models have feet of clay then you as a role model will lose respect and getting the same back is highly unlikely.

Walk the talk, mean what you say and keep your promises - maybe then you will be held in high esteem.