Monkey See, Monkey Do.

Copycats.

Or how about: “Do as I say, not as I DO.” Why is that saying so popular, even in jest? Because they’re watching us.

Every moment. Of every day. Learning.

The good.

And the bad.

If there were ever any doubt.. well, no, there’s never been any doubt. I know exactly where my kids get their bad habits from (ME.) and exactly who needs to set good examples for them (ME.) and who they’re learning the majority of their learning from (ME.)

All the good books and good projects and good activities are just a piece of the puzzle and not worth nearly as much if I don’t lead by example, set good habits and DO them. Like a Momma Duck cutting the path for her children to walk, my children follow where I go.

Whether that’s down a path of kindness and promptness or a path of short-temperedness and laziness–where I go, they go.

Sure, there will be some exceptions but for the most part, it’s true. And it’s not easy to retrain our children (not impossible just not easy) so it’s much better to start with good habits young. If I could go back, there would easily be a half dozen things I’d have done differently from the beginning. But of course, I can’t. But I *can* start now.

My theme for 2011 has been “well-functioning” and one of the things we’ve been working on in school this year is a good functioning rhythm to our day. It’s been two steps forward and one step back the whole way. But it has been better than last year. And hopefully next year will be even better. I just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other, and steering back onto the path when I wander a bit, setting an example worthy of imitation.

Because one thing we know for sure…

Our kids are watching us.

~

This is a part of the ABC’s of Homeschooling by Dawn @ 5 Kids and a Dog.

Read my previous ABC posts here:

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Amber

Hey, y’all! I’m Amber and I wear many hats. I drink a ton of coffee and I’m constantly sweeping crumbs off the floor. After 18 years of homeschooling, I’m getting close to graduating my third child and now we are starting over at preschool with our fourth, Lil Miss Mouse. She keeps us young and she’s the main reason for my excessive coffee consumption. Drink up!