Caring for Calves and Kids

The other night Ellie was helping me get ready for bed. I started brushing my teeth. She started brushing her teeth on the exact same side and at the exact same speed as me. I had put my hand on my hip during the process and right away Ellie does the exact same thing. Next I proceeded to do was brush my hair and there was Ellie in lock step with me brushing her hair the exact same way.

This got me thinking how much of an impression and influence we have in our children’s lives. It can be even down to the simplest tasks such as brushing our hair or cleaning our teeth. We truly leave a giant footprint on how our kids will act and react to situations and it can be good or bad.

This continued to stay with me over the next few days. It came to the forefront again when I heard my children playing house together. The words and phrases they were using were mostly kind, loving and nurturing, but there were a few that I suddenly realized was me and I definitely didn’t want it to be me. They would say, “If you don’t do this right now, you won’t get to do this.”

            Yes, that is something I said, but hearing those words and the exact emphasis behind it was eye-opening. Our children really listen to our words and usually when we say those phrases are when children need us most to be compassionate. Something which I now try and be extra mindful on.

            I also heard this theme during a chat with my therapist – “What did you notice when adults fought?” or “What did a loving relationship look like to you?” All prime examples of how what we do and show our kids when they are little play a huge role for the rest of their lives.

            So I encourage you, like me, to be more mindful of what you show your children, how you display love, anger, sadness, anxiety. It’s part of our job as parents and I promise you they will be watching.