Children and Manners

Children and manners.  Let me say just this one thing: be their role model.  These little people are sponges and they really are soaking up every word you say.  Recently, my oldest twin (she's only 2.5 years old) murmured "What the heck Mom?" in response to something my husband or I was doing at the time.  I was blown over by this just-in-passing comment.  I thought where did she hear that?  Who did she hear that from?  Where?  When?

At some point, someone in our five person household said it.  It's over now and we are working on the simple things: saying please and thank you to each other, in front of each other and using our "side window".  The side window is that window of opportunity (this takes skill now so be prepared) where you can actually take advantage of your child's imagination and spirit, in a good way of course.  This is what you do: you find another adult close to you or a neighbor or a Mummy friend at a playgroup you go to and YOU, the mother use the words please and thank you with these folks.  This simple act works miracles in your child's mind.  They think Mommy is doing it and I probably should too.  (side window reference: Harvey Karp's Bestseller, The Happiest Toddler on the Block)