Vatechayena es hayelodim Shmos 1,10.
CHINUCH: LIVE IT AND YOUR CHILDREN WILL LIVE IT ....
Experience shows that it is frequently easier to have the desired influence on one’s children if this influence comes from good friends rather than directly from the parents. For nowadays children are apt to consider the advice and guidance as an effort to “boss” them, in the belief that their parents do not consider them sufficiently grown-up or mature....
....It should also be borne in mind that if parents want to have an influence on children, they must first and foremost, themselves present a living example. Moreover, whatever the measure of a certain good thing that the parents desire to see in their children, they themselves must have and demonstrate that quality to a much higher degree. Even if this means a special effort on the part of the parents, surely nothing is too hard for parents to do where the welfare of their children is concerned. Actually, the difficulties, if any, are more imaginary than real, and where there is a true determination to overcome them, the difficulties turn out to be much smaller than imagined....
==== Rebbe Responsa #79. Part of letter 4.
