Those little eyes see more than we think. And yet, their minds process in a different manner than we might anticipate. When we think of how another adult can witness the same situation as us, with an absolutely obscured perception than our own, it is easy to comprehend why children with such innocent and malleable minds, are unable to process how adults portray themselves. We must take that into consideration with all aspects when interacting with children. They are a reflection of us. I have seen parents demand respect, lose their tempers when children talk back, and even lash out when a child throws a temper tantrum. Not that I am innocent when it comes to bad behaviors of a role model, I have simply learned my lesson. Have you ever thrown a screwdriver across the room and cussed out the stripped screw, ever told a child, “I make the rules, and you have to follow them!”, or gotten into a heated argument with your mother-in-law when you thought the children were sound asleep? With every word that rolls off your tongue, and with every action you take, there are repercussions that manifest themselves into seeing into your own reflection. My choice of action is a continuous endeavor, transforming the very image of my own reflection. Do I want them to stay calm? Yes. Then I must speak calmly. Do I want them to demand respect and perfection from others? No. Then I must give them respect and show empathy for their mistakes. Instead of saying “I don’t care what your brother did to you! That doesn’t give you the right to hit him!” I need to consciously decide to respond with, “What your brother did must have really upset you. Let’s talk about some ways that you can control your temper and help you talk through your problems, so that neither one of you gets hurt. You see, I am here to make sure that your hurt feelings don’t turn into regretful actions!”. I soon began to see my reflection changing, both metaphorically through my children, and in how I saw my very own reflection while changing for the better.
Peaches & Pits 