We are all so often caught up in teaching our kids moral values, but sometimes, kids too, have things to teach us.

I recall an incident that happened when Tristan was barely three years old. We were having dinner at a nice little restaurant overlooking Mt Faber.

There was a group of five kids (about six or seven years' old) colouring at an art and craft corner, which was actually part of the restaurant. Tristan being the typical social butterfly was ecstatic and immediately ran over to join the group. He tried several times to join in but was stopped by the kids (to my horror!). The kids' parents remained nonchalant and ignored the whole situation.

Tristan had loads of endless questions ­ "Why didn't they want to share?" Why can't I join them" and "Why didn't they want to talk or play with me?"

What can you possibly say to a three-year-old? I was flabbergasted, 'cause I  had never experienced that anywhere, but I figured we couldn't always be sheltering him from the ugliness of society.

A little later, Tristan joined another 18-month-old boy and they coloured together; Tristan making sure he gave in to the little one as he said, "He is only a baby!"

In a society where we are constantly bombarded with negative influences on the Internet, television, magazines, etc., many parents do not even realise the amount of bad influences our children are witnessing every single day.

We as parents, have to take it upon us to teach our children the importance of moral values. And in rare moments like above, children too, have things to teach us.....