When my nephew was younger, he watched his mom take off the little end piece of a banana where theres a tiny black spot. My nephew, in true toddler form, would mimic her habit by snapping a banana right in half to get rid of that tiny end bit…
Our kids are watching. They are soaking up information about how to do life by watching us. Not only will they do what you do, but they will be unhindered by restraint!
Last week, I lost my patience with my 2 year old. Potty training is a trying time! I yelled at him (for a reason I can’t even remember now) and he looked right at me and yelled back in my face.
I was stunned. I thought that by yelling I would regain control of the situation and he would follow my directions, but my subconscious plan backfired. Instead of asserting my dominance, I just taught him how to yell.
Less than an hour later, I asked him nicely to put on his shoes and he just screamed right at me… I thought, “what have I done?” I yelled at him in my impatience, and toddler see, toddler do – in excess!
Right then and there, I decided to apologize to him. I said sorry to him for yelling earlier. I don’t know if he understood what I was even talking about, but it sure had an impact on me.
My actions will be mimicked, most likely without restraint and in excess. My hope is that by apologizing, I will have restored the standard of behaviour. If I act humbly, perhaps he, too, will learn humility and to apologize when he is wrong.