These wrongs commenced by the mother’s concealing things from the father, who has an equal interest with her in the character their children are forming. The father should have been consulted freely. All should have been laid open to him. But the opposite course, taken to conceal the wrongs of the children, encourages in them a disposition to deceive, a lack of truthfulness and honesty. {1T 157.2}

Disse onder begyndte med, at moderen skjulte et og andet for faderen, der har lige så stor interesse som hun har for den karakter, deres børn danner. Faderen burde villigt være taget med på råd. Alt burde have været forelagt ham, som det var. Men den modsatte fremgangsmåde, der blev valgt for at skjule børnenes forseelser, opelsker hos dem en tilbøjelighed til at bedrage, en mangel på sandfærdighed og ærlighed.