Exceptional Family Values

My family were always the exception
to the advice they gave out, or more likely
made sure other family members followed,
whilst explaining the line to follow in a way
that denied them being held accountable
for their advice from who they made follow it.

So many times I would be told 'Don't get yourself
into situations you can't get yourself out of' when
the situation I needed to get out of most
was being told 'Don't get yourself into...     '
by people who put me in those same situations
they soon disowned putting me in.

But as they later said of choices laden with errors
'When you make your bed you have to lie on it*',
they will have their bed to lay on. They can follow
their own exceptional 'do as I say not as I do' advice,
which they clearly needed most in the first place.

*originally an English expression from the1500's about consequence of choice.