Hear No Evil, See No Evil, Speak No Evil

For those of you who don't believe that your children watch and listen to everything you do.... ARE YOU NUTS?! 

Just watch them sometime.  After we moved into our house, we had to have some repair work done on a fireplace that wasn't built properly.  "Pook"  couldn't wait for the workers to arrive every day.  Before they got to the house, he was dressed in shorts, work boots, a tee shirt and had a "do-rag" on his head.  That's how the other guys dressed, so he had to also.  My girls would take their dolls and imitate me breastfeeding the baby.  My granddaughters now do it to them.  They put on our "heels" and walk around in them.  Not too long ago, "Max" put on my glasses and started reprimanding her dolls for being too noisy. After all, she was trying to do paperwork!  Just the other day, she informed her father that she was allowed to say "knock it off" but not other words like stupid, or shut up.  Then she listed multiple profanities that she was also not allowed to say. 

We love to watch movies.  "The Surprise" would watch with us.  I always knew what had been watched by looking at how he dressed and played the next day.  After we watched "The Patriot", he spent days dressed in sweatpants tucked into tall socks.  He made a rifle out of a piece of wood and reenacted the movie for days.  "Doc" watches the Military Channel.  I cannot tell you how many times, "The Surprise" would dress in camouflage, complete with meals and a backpack.  He would walk through the kitchen and announce that he was going out.  About an hour later he would come back in and announce that we were safe.  I went along and started asking him after a "mission" if the perimeter was safe.

Think about play time.  Think about the toys we buy for them.  They pretend to be doctors and firemen and policemen.  They play at toy kitchens and drive toy cars.  They play with GI Joes and baby dolls.  They drive toy cars.  Listen to what they say as they play and you will hear your words coming out of their mouths!

My point ... be aware of what you say and do in front of your children and make sure you are setting a positive example.  Be aware of your child's surroundings and what they are being exposed to.  Make sure you know who their friends are and know the families of their friends.  Pay attention to the music they listen to. Talk to them about what they see and talk to them about what they do.  Don't let movie stars and athletes turn their heads too far.  Are these the role models you want for your children?  Think about the vast number of stars and athletes and musicians.  How many can you think of that are actually stable? 

Be the role model and the hero for your child!