Dishonesty may seem like a minor issue. But lying is actually a serious vice that parents should never ignore.

Hi, I’m Mark Gregston … with Parenting Today’s Teens.

Ultimately, dishonesty is rooted in disrespect: disrespect for others, disrespect for authority, and disrespect for oneself. And the longer a parent waits to address the problem, the more entrenched and habitual it becomes.

So if you see lies and falsehoods creeping into your teen’s conversations, texts, or Facebook posts … don’t stand by and watch! Confront it.

Let your teen know that as his parent, it’s your job to keep an eye out for deception. Letting him get away with lying, cheating or stealing today … could lead to a lifetime of misery down the road.

Proverbs 12:19 says, “Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed.”