Recently, I viewed a video on you tube that was really powerfully provocative. We know that young children imitate parent and adult behaviors.
But I observed in horror as I witnessed these behaviors: an adult screaming at a passerby and the young fellow alongside her yelling too; an adult riding an escalator smoking a cigarette as her young child holds her lit cigarette between her fingers.
I saw an adult impatiently waiting for the train—checking his watch—his child behind him pretending to irritably look at his watch; another adult angry at the ATM machine bashing it with her fists and her teenage daughter beating her knuckles at the neighboring automated teller.
I watched as another grown-up sprinted up the subway stairs banging into a woman’s suitcase not offering to help pick up her valise; his son followed suit.
I noticed another older person throw an empty soda can in the street and the tot behind mimicked that action. I heard adult temper tantrums only to be copied by the youngster nearby.
I watched again in sheer astonishment as an adult gave someone the finger and her child offered the same gesture.
What really impressed me most was seeing a husband brutally abusing and beating his wife; and, his son, without any hesitation participated in the violent action of his father.
It truly amazes me that we adults conduct ourselves inappropriately, disrespectfully, and without any sense of remorse or feeling for the other person. We offer no hesitation to react to situations without being aware that we are influencing others, especially our children.
What kind of role models have we become? Certainly not role models who have a positive influence; then what can we expect from our children if they exhibit behaviors like these? Why, then, do we wonder that we live in a society without ethics and morals? When we adults do what we want; children see what we do—AND they will do what they see!
I challenge you to be a positive influence!