The Power of Parenting by Example

I’ve alluded to this in the past, but I truly believe in parenting by being an example. My short stint as a nanny and years of working in youth ministry have taught me the importance of "preaching what you practice."

As a new mom I can see this principle at work, even without me trying. The most basic of these began to show through when Little G was still tiny and floppy. When we smile he would smile back at us and now when we laugh he laughs back at us.

D and I are trying to put this into practice as early as we can. We are learning, or at least trying to. A while back I posted about trying to curb my pseudo swearing. I have gotten a teeny, tiny bit better, but I still have a ton of trouble with the word “crap”.  I have to keep trying though. I don’t want my 5 year old running around saying “crap” all the time.

If you don’t want your child to lie…don’t lie. And if you don’t want them to swear…don’t swear. As simple as this concept is…it’s hard to get.

I can only see this getting more difficult as Little G gets older and the examples get more and more complex.

Little G’s newest talent is mimicking us when we shake our head from side to side and say “no” or up and down to say “yes”.

It’s such a great feeling and totally frightening at the same time. There’s so much on the line as a parent. Ugh…the stress!