I just read a comment concerning the most recent celebrity scandal with Tiger Woods and his affair’s. It was a parent who was talking about how much he and his son looked up to Tiger for not only his golfing ability, but for his emphasis on values. He said his son basically had a shrine to Tiger in his room, but in light of the recent events he would no longer support Tiger Woods in this way.

Granted, Tiger woods has put out a squeaky clean image to the public concerning his values and his lifestyle. There have been mentions of him doing a little partying, but nothing like some of the other athletes and celebrities. His wife seems pretty low key and until now hasn’t been in the spotlight anything either. They seem the ideal candidates for the all around perfect American family with a dog and the whole nine yards.

However, just like every person and family, there are real human issues and struggles. As parents we often try to hide our imperfections and use other people in order to try and give our children someone to look up to and be like. Whether it’s the president, a golfer or even their own local high school teacher, we try to give them examples of real people that accomplish great things in life while upholding some sort of great moral standard at the same time. We set not only ourselves and whomever we are pointing to but also our children up for failure.

Everyone has their struggles and it’s okay for our children to see them in ourselves and in people who hold powerful positions in our world. When people fall, it’s an opportunity for dialogue with our children and us to teach them that failure is okay and inevitable in all areas of life. It’s okay for them to understand that as much as we strive to be better people and treat ourselves and other’s with more love than hate, that sometimes the walk isn’t easy and we will inevitably stumble and fall. It’s not okay that we put people on pedastals and tear them down when they show that they are human…especially in front of our children.