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FAMILY Motherhood

COPY CAT!!

“Keep quiet!
I say keep quiet! Don’t cry! You hear me?” Those words sent me hurrying to the
sitting room from the balcony where I was folding the laundry. OMG! I only
asked my 29 month old daughter to help calm her uneasy sister and here she was
screaming at her to keep quiet.  I was a
bit shock, but the truth hit me and immediately too. The only way my daughter
learnt to quiet a crying child was what she just displayed; for that was how I
hushed her up when she cried. This painful realization hit and I blushed with
shame

I did not fully
figure out what a copy cat is, until my daughter started mimicking everything
that was said or done around her. Michelle practically displays a mini version
of everyone she has been around for a while; from her teacher to my very self.
Initially, I was pleasantly surprised when she would place shoes, cups and
spoons at the exact places set for them. Of recent, she would sit her teddy and
question it, “what is this?” Standing as a teacher over her pupils and pointing
to whatever it is … umh!  She then
answers for the teddy, “it is a ball”. In more precise ways, she would call out
“Michelle, what is this? And then the cycle continues- “it is a ….”

The beautiful
part of this “copycatting” is that the right morals are copied too. My daughter
has learnt that a “thank you” goes with “you are welcome”. As such, when she
says “thank you” and doesn’t get the “you are welcome” answer, she will say it
for you (incase you forgot *big smile*). She has come to associate a goodnight
wish and good morning greeting with a hug, so when we have a guest that does
not know this ritual, she would religiously offer the hugs after the wishes/greetings
has been exchanged.

This
“copycatting” is further seen in the names by which she is fondly called her by
her uncles and aunties. A favourite uncle is now referred to as “sweet heart”,
as that is what he frequently calls her, an aunty has been christened “follow
follow” as the aunty calls her that because she follows her round the house
every time she is around.

Can I speak of the songs that are daily sung for and around her? from praise and worship songs, to toddler songs (a DVD for kids) to national anthem to “dance for mummy…” (my tease song for her sister) to “chop my money”. Her combination of these songs are usually hilarious. Michelle is simply a walking magnet! 

In the word
of a poet “I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day” It is important to
live, act and speak all we wish and teach our kids to be. I learn this truth
daily.

I now caution
my daughter gently. When I loose my cool with her, I keep quiet than scream. When
she cries, I calmly hush her or some times allow her drain her pool of tears.
When I hurt her, I apologize, when she offers help, I say thank you. I am consciously
courteous with and around her. I watch my words and sentences, I refrain from
baby talks, slangs, and abusive words…… as I know I am a walking chalk board
where my daughter reads and memorizes all inscription.

Raising
courteous, disciplined and well groomed children is a deliberate act.

Let’s speak less
and act more!  

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4 Comments

  • Reply
    Trendy Mother
    August 7, 2012 at 5:54 pm

    True ooo Ola, Ife thank u for your comment.

  • Reply
    chinedu
    August 7, 2012 at 7:47 am

    nice one…. Kids tend to pick up very fast what we do around them.. So we all have to be carefull whenever we are around them

  • Reply
    ife
    August 7, 2012 at 7:25 am

    This is a wonderful and inspiring piece from a mum. God is our strength.

  • Reply
    Olaedo
    August 7, 2012 at 5:44 am

    True.. we all have to be careful to teach our kids, though our actions, exactly how we'd rather have them be. Good or bad, it's up to us, really. May God help us all cos it really is hard work.

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