I’ve always tried to teach my child to be honest and admit to guilt. More importantly, to recognize the differences between right and wrong, and to make good de

I’ve always tried to teach my child to be honest and admit to guilt. More importantly, to recognize the differences between right and wrong, and to make good decisions particularly when it’s a nuanced situation and not completely clear what’s right. It’s been a tough slog. We have caught her with vapes, with a bottle of vodka, and likely has used pot though we have no proof. We have explained the risks and legalities of these various activities, how we recognize she’s on the cusp of adulthood but we are still responsible for her wellbeing and we deeply care about her safety and happiness. Mostly, we try to set a good example by being honest and fessing up about our own many mistakes and shortcomings. She knows people in high school whose parents are split up, whose dads are in prison for heinous crimes, who have suffered abuse, and she admits that she’s fortunate. I believe humans have an innate sense of justice, but it’s also a muscle that must be exercised and trained. Temptation to take shortcuts will always exist, so the key thing is to give our children the tools to handle every situation as they stumble along the bumpy path of life.