Loyalty implies strong opposition to any temptation to be unfaithful or abandon a friend, cause or even a product.

People generally feel a strong allegiance to the country or state they were born into or live in when it comes to sporting events.

Cricket fans worldwide and the State of Origin rugby league fans in Australia are great examples.

The Australian Matildas and the unity and pride felt throughout the country watching them play.

The make of a car is something that also causes devotion. The list is endless.

Physical or Material

The betrayal of loyalty regarding a product impacts a company and its profit and loss margins, which rise and fall constantly due to people's purchasing decisions.

Be flexible; try other products to determine which is best for you.

However, when someone betrays the loyalty and trust in a relationship or friendship, it causes hurt, sadness, anger, and a lack of confidence.

Is there a heart involved?

Friends depend on each other to be there for them in times of happiness and sadness.

Sad or challenging times are when friends count and lean on each other the most.

Betrayed loyalty hurts.

When a supposedly steady, reliable friend disappoints by not being loyal, it impacts and may even end a valued friendship.

Third parties

Every relationship has expectations of each other.

If the relationship is between two adults, expectations must be discussed and agreed upon so everyone is on the same page.

After all, are expectations without discussion and agreement fair?

Expectations of what loyalty looks like are fundamental in lifetime unions.

When it comes to a relationship or friendship between two adults, nobody can infiltrate it unless one of the parties allows that to happen.

Loyalty in any relationship faces tests, whether in an intimate adult relationship or with a child determined to get what they want.

Children pit parents against each other.

Naturally, they will go to the parent who gives them what they want.

Teach your child that you have your co-parents back... and both of you have theirs.

Truth

Unfortunately, not all children have both parents who have their back and are there for them.

While adult expectations require discussion, a child's expectations are valid.

Parenting is harsh, and a child will impact your relationship; that, too, is normal.

Therefore, plan to make that impact positive, deepening and strengthening your relationship.

Children are on loan, after all.

Regardless, children need a guiding light, someone they can look up to, depend upon and know that they will do the best for them, although it may not always feel like it.

Regardless of their age, children need you, they need to belong, and they need to know that someone is going to stand by them.

Throughout TikTok, there are many instances of children asking their step-parent to adopt them. The children in these videos are teenagers.

They clearly want a parent who is loyal to them. What an honour for a stepparent to have a child who wants that legally binding connection and sense of loyalty.

Trust has been placed in that person and is honoured.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the world, children are betrayed by their parents who intentionally harm them.

Can you imagine how a child feels to know that their biological parent would willingly hurt them?

What a psychological, lifelong, impact that would have.

That's what happens when loyalty is betrayed and this is why loyalty is important.

Know yourself, stand by your co-parent, develop and maintain a loving relationship with your child and be steadfast in your commitment to yourself, your partner and your children.

Live with integrity - strive to do what's right, respect your co-parent and love, love, love your children.