It’s widely said that children are like little sponges, soaking up everything they hear and see. They absorb everything and then repeat/copy what they’ve heard or seen at the most surprising (and often inappropriately funny) times! I try to be careful what my children see and hear, but the biggest influence that I expose them to is possibly the worst influence of all sometimes – ME!
I shouldn’t be surprised when B1 comes out with the things he does! Recently he walked into the room where I was, paused, and said “Now what’s going on here?” – something that I regularly say to my kids (but hadn’t realised before then how often I say it!).
I’ve seen him …
– flop back into his chair whilst breathing out with a loud sigh (who does that, really?!),
– chatter on the phone to an imaginary person and roll his eyes,
– stop and stand with his hands on his hips,
– say “no, I’m too busy”… (when asked for a cuddle),
– when I say “I’ve just got to do this”, he has replied with “quickly mummy, do it quickly!”
– he’ll run around the house saying “we’re late, quick mum, we’re late”
OH MY GOSH! Is THIS what I’m teaching my children????!!!!!
There are also many positive things that I’ve seen too (that he MUST have learnt from me!):
– when we thank B1 for things, he says “pleasure” (as in, “its been my pleasure” – so cute!)
– he says Grace before his meals & likes to pray before bedtime
– he’ll come up and put his arm around me and says “I love you” for no reason
– when we’re out in public, he is normally extremely good at listening and following instructions
– he is helpful, grabbing things for people or cleaning up after himself
– B1 comforts B2 with words and patting, when B2 is crying
I love seeing my boys grow and develop so much, and especially seeing their individual personalities coming out! Whilst it is a bit scary to see some of my negative traits wear off onto the boys, it challenges me to always be willing to grow and learn myself. I should not be focused on the negative, or worry about this, but focus on the positives. There is so much scope for teaching my boys, for laughing and learning together. I just have to keep in mind how much influence I have. I am reminded of the line from the Spiderman movie, “With great power comes great responsibility”.
Which trait would you most or least like to pass onto your children?
Linking up with Jess from Diary of Stay At Home Mum for IBOT
It’s so true that they soak everything up! My eldest has started to demonstrate my trait of wanting to be on time for everything, and she actually gets a bit anxious if we’re not…. My impatience is a big negative that I don’t want to pass on. And my ability to accept things and move on (my resilience) is something I’d love to see in them.
You are so right. It is amazing what they take in when we aren’t even noticing.
My daughter is always telling us she loves us, which is something we tell the kids regularly… she has also started wanting to dunk her biscuits ;-P
You’re so right. Mostly I find it so cute when I see my husband and myself reflected in my children, like how all three walk with their hands clasped behind their backs like daddy does. Lately, though, there have been some… Not so pleasant copy cat antics, things that I wasn’t aware we were even doing or saying! They’re pretty honest little mirrors, aren’t they?
Oh this is so true! My four year old daughter always says she wants to be just like me when she grows up and watching her is sometimes like looking at a mini-me! It certainly does make me cognisant of not falling into the “do as I say, not as I do” trap! 🙂
Oh yes, quite funny really! I love some of the things my daughter comes out with. One of the cutest is “okay mummy?” with her head tilted to the side, and a rising intonation. I do that SO MUCH… On the negative side, I really don’t like hearing her tone to her brother and sister at times – generally bossing them around and trying the be the mummy…
Oh SNAP!
I was just thinking that this morning.
My daughter turned to me and said no mummy I can’t nap because I am too busy working.
whoops!
Think we’ve all said things we regret to our children in the heat of the moment that they will repeat.. hopefully not to outsiders who think we’re teaching our children bad things!
Oh my eldest mimics me so much it’s scary; I really must change the way I talk!
And funny too, because our 19month old kept answering ‘mmmm’ when asked a question, and I couldn’t work out where she got it from, until boatman noticed I do it ALL the time!
this is so true and they are so sneaky! My Miss M can look like shes reading and then repeat a conversation word for word.. you have to be so careful!!
I have been watching my little girl as she develops her own personality and I am getting scared at how much of me I see in her. It definitely makes me think when I see her copying my behaviour!
So true! My daughter has become a little mini me of late using a lot of the expressions and sayings that I do!
A good reminder to be watchful of our words and actions as they’re going to be mimicked by our children right through their life!
The girls are equally addicted to technology as I am. And by that I mean idevices. I have noticed the more time I want to spend on mine the more they want to do the same. If however I am on less they seem to want it less as well.
Oh Gosh it’s so true isn’t it! For my oldest, Miss 7, and my youngest, Master 1, their first word was “Hello” whilst taking into a toy (building block & remote)… Perhaps I spend too much time on the phone??? 😉 Master One now tries typing on the PC too LOL
I swear this is true…my 9 year old son said to me recently…stop, I need a moment…….I wonder who taught him that!