Monkey See....Monkey Do.....

Every parent has those moments when their child does something or says something and it is as though you are looking into a mirror. They have become you. More often than not, when Gracie does something that is so me, it is not a positive thing. She picked up all of Keton's charming traits, and all of my not-so-cute behaviors. Perhaps God is having a little fun with me and sending me a few messages through my little one. A few days ago this was precisely the case. I came home from work to find Gracie in my sunglasses, bucket full of goodies in hand, and toting around her library card.
Hmmm.
What was she up to? Keton told her to show me what she had "purchased" at the store. Oh no. Pretend shopping? Already? Gracie hopped on over to a stack of books, upon which a statue of two women sit. She politely conversed with the ladies, letting them know that she wanted to purchase the items in her bucket, and when they asked for her card she said, "Oh yes, here is my credit card!" At this moment she produced her library card, "scanned" it through the books, thanked the ladies for their help and showed me her new items! Oh my goodness. I just stared at her and thought about how this is so not from Keton. When I saw how he was looking at me I could tell he was also reminding me of the fact that Gracie got this from ME.
Allow me to illustrate through pictures....
It is kind of sad that our four year old is using her "library" card to shop, and not for books. Although, she does love the library too, which I should go and remind Keton that the love of books and libraries is from ME as well...it is not all about shopping. Moments like these remind me that our children are always watching, and learning from us. They don't have a filter to use so that they are only getting the good, and missing the bad. I find it funny that as we are "raising" our little ones, and teaching them how to behave, they are in fact helping us to become better people and adults. We change what we do or say so that we are not negatively influencing them. We pray more so that they are seeing us pray and learning how to do it for themselves. We eat better because we want them to eat well. We get out and exercise so that they are growing up with a healthy lifestyle. We change the music we listen to, or movies we watch so that they are not hearing and seeing the wrong things. We read more, so that they will read more. We yell less at each other so as to not upset them. We kiss more because they are so darn cute. And we kiss more just to have them rush up to us and beg for attention....
Our kids help US to become better people. Funny how you think the influence is only going one way....
Thank God for children. And for the joy they bring to our lives.
And the laughter. Lots and lots of laughter....
I wonder what Gracie will purchase today....I better go intervene before she maxes out her library card and can no longer afford great literature.