Braden has been doing something lately that has really driven home the concept that he is always watching me and Arica. It also shows that he is not only watching, but he is memorizing our moves in his mind. He is going over them again and again until he can mimic us himself.
It reminds me of the old Sting song. I would like to clarify that I don't really like the song. It's just one of those songs that everyone who lives above ground has heard a few times. One part says "Every step you take I'll be watching you. Every single day and every word you say...I'll be watching you." Of course Mr. Sting was not talking about kids, but he might as well have been. This describes exactly what kids are doing every minute of the day.
Every night after his bath either Arica or I put lotion on Braden. Lately you have to give him a lotion bottle to pacify him while he gets greased up. At first I thought nothing of this because we have given Braden something to hold during his diaper changing since he was a newborn. If we didn't he would constantly try and grab anything and everything in site, making changing his diaper quite an adventure.
About a week ago I took notice of what Braden was doing with the lotion bottle after I gave it to him. He held it upside down and shook it up and down several times. Then he put one hand to the outlet. After that he put the lotion back down, and rubbed his hands together. In short he was imitating what he had seen Arica and I do hundreds of times. It is very cute and entertaining for sure.
From another point of view it is very scary. If he is copying the most ordinary things like applying lotion, what else could he be copying? My guess is that he copies everything he sees, and all indications are that he sees everything. He copies things Arica and I do with his toys. He puts things on his head that he has seen us put on our head. This includes the ordinary like hats and the not so ordinary like pots and pans. The list of things Braden copies grows all the time and will keep growing for years to come.
Being the flawed person that I know I am, this is a scary thought. Something as little as playing with a lotion bottle is a serious reminder to me that I need to be the best example I can be for my son. Either that or I need to start praying that he watches his mother.
16 comments:
They never stop watching. Or imitating. You hit the nail on the head: be the best example you can be. Be the dad you want him to be some day.
And when you have more than one kid. They watch the older ones.
My one year old is currently the most powerful of the bunch. She knows all of our weaknesses.
oh yeah, it only compounds with other siblings...it will definitely make you aware of what you are doing...and even what you are not.
Just wait until he overhears and adult conversation and starts copying your language. Those are fun days...;)
Just wait until he starts talking! Really! You never realize some of the things you say, apparently a lot, until you have a parrot repeating it back to you! For us it was actually...and there is nothing cuter than hearing a 2 year old using the word actually over and over again!
I should have at least touched on the talking. I know I will have some slip ups there, but everyone knows kids will say whatever you say. I am sure there is plenty of effort to watch the cussing in every home across the globe. I was not as much aware that he would copy our actions at such a young age. It is pretty cool to see.
They see EVERYTHING and prove their point at the worst times. Just you wait. Heh.
you are so right. it's amazing what they pick up. there is a public service announcement that aired in australia that was all about that point but on a deeper more serious level
No doubt, kids don't miss a trick. Especially when you do or say something you don't want them to notice.
Isn't it so cute, though?
Imitating what you're doing is one thing, but imitating what you're saying could get scary!
They are like little sponges. It is a little scary...
Just wait until tomorrow, when he grabs your keys at 7:30 in the morning, kisses your wife goodbye, grabs his briefcast, heads to the car and goes to work. That's when you know he's copying you...
No doubt, my son seems to be picking up new words every hour, so I REALLY need to be more carefully what I say, especially while I'm driving.
This is exactly why my kid today loves to vacuum. It is crazy to see what they pick up.
I still remember this phase. BTW, it goes on well after babyhood, like into teenagehood and beyond . . . Don't mean to scare you or anything. LOL.
Seriously, it can be cute and scary at the same time. I hope I gave my girls the best example they could have.
It is a little overwhelming, but amazing too!
The explanation of the lotion bottle brought back memories of my kids being so young. Thanks!
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