Role Models – Where Have They All Gone?

With recent controversies in the NFL (“Deflate Gate”, Ray Rice, Adrian Peterson, Aaron Hernandez), you begin to wonder if any athletes can behave. From Tonya Harding to Lance Armstrong, advantages have been sought in a variety of ways.  The biggest issue with this – who do kids look up to? Where are the Michael Jordans? Greg Maddux’s? Eli Mannings? For that matter his brother Peyton?  The public has a short memory and is willing to forgive people like Chris Brown. 

Webster’s Dictionary defines a role model as “a person whose behavior, example or success is or can be emulated by others, especially younger people”.  As children grow, they begin to look to athletes and celebrities as examples of how to act, how to think and how to treat others.  Unfortunately, today’s role models are hard to find.

One key component of a good role model is correction of behavior.  When an athlete or celebrity makes a mistake, kids are watching to see how they react.  If they lie, try to deny or cover up their inappropriate actions, kids are learning that it is okay to behave badly, as long as no one finds out.  But if they own up to their mistakes, take ownership of the error and/or accept the punishment, they’re showing children that they are human and bound to make mistakes. They’re showing kids that honesty is in fact, the best policy.

Maybe the problem is athletes and celebrities who are and could be good role models are often quiet and private about their good works. The press doesn’t spotlight their causes or successes, and the paparazzi are not following them around to catch them in a good act.  They fly under the radar because they are humble about their accomplishments. 

Eminem, for all the bad press he gets, granted a gravely ill teen his final wish – to meet his idol. Friends of Michigan teen, Gage Garmo, took to Twitter and Instagram in an effort to make sure Gage’s wish was granted.  Rainbow Connection, an organization that grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses, picked up on the pleas and was able to get a hold of Eminem’s representation. The day before Gage passed away, the rapper visit him at his home. 

Unfortunately, the bad press stories trump the feel-good stories.  It’s up to us, as parents, to show our children that bad behavior is unacceptable.  We need to let them know that “memory lapses” after bad behavior is unacceptable. In these types of cases, it is okay to hold a grudge.  

Written by: Allyson Johns