As a foster parent and parent I think what serves me the best, and this is dealing with seriously effed up kids as well as my own, is that what you do is far more important than what you try to 'teach', want an honest kid then be honest in front of him, give back the extra change some poor kid at McDicks gave you by mistake, fess up to speeding when you get stopped etc, want a polite kid then open doors for people give up your seat on a train, want a kid that reads then read yourself.
Whatever they see you do or hear you say, everyday, all the time, teaches them, even if you don't want it to.
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