I'm a firm believer that early on - children become a mirror image of their parents. How we act and maybe more importantly REACT to life around us is much like they will do once they are preteen and teen.
I was getting on to my teenage daughter last weekend for throwing stuff around and yelling because she couldn't find what she was looking for. Then I realized....she sounded just like me.
With broken homes and many kids have to deal with 'the boyfriend' of the month....they see a whole life many of us didn't have shoved at us while we were developing. I never saw my parents fight, drink or smoke. Therefore, I wasn't trying to emulate that while in middle school and high school.
I wish I had the awareness when MY kids were younger to pay attention to how I responded to life, it's problems, it's stresses and when I was disappointed. I wish I had been more like my parents instead of thinking I was so liberated and free with my kids.
Unfortunately, this is a lesson learned to late for many parents....including myself.
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