Stories from the Stringam Family Ranches of Southern Alberta

From the 50s and 60s to today . . .



Saturday, July 12, 2014

Do As I Do

Grandma was babysitting.
Cousins, the two-year-old (H) and the three-year-old (B) had been playing in the front room.
Occasional outbursts over the train.
The doll.
The stroller.
The spot on the couch.
Whose turn it was to breathe the surrounding air . . .
Had been painstakingly and endlessly sorted out.
Silence had descended.
There’s nothing quite as suspicious as two toddlers who have gone quiet.
Grandma hurried to investigate, skidding to a stop in the entry to the living room.
The two little girls were still playing. But had changed things up a bit . . .
B held a tiny water paint set in one hand. In the other, the dry miniscule brush. “Look at me, please,” she said.
H was seated, facing her older cousin.
B was ‘painting’ H’s face. “Look at me, please,” she said again. She applied a couple of strokes. “Look at me, please.” A couple more.
Grandma smiled and stood quietly watching.
Have I mentioned that B’s mom is a face-painter? Well, she is.
A good one.
It doesn’t matter what we try to teach them, kids do what they see us do.
 Actions definitely speak louder than words.
Although in this case, the words are nice, too . . .
The novice
The professional

The result

20 comments:

  1. A cute anecdote illustrating an important point. Kids see EVERYTHING. That is so clear to me, who is not a mom. And yet I know parents who continue to underestimate how much kids observe Even when they don't seem to be paying attention. This is probably the # 1 thing I wish parents all got.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I agree with you completely, Carol! They are observing closest when they seem to be doing something else!

      Delete
    2. Absolutely agree too, Carol--and you don't have to be a parent to be an astute observer of human behaviour. :) We're mimickers by nature, and the earlier parents learn this, the better!

      Delete
  2. Hee! Oh this made me chuckle!
    I also made that black and yellow outfit he was wearing!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love that your granddaughter mimicked not only her mom's actions, but also the word “please”!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was so grateful that she had a good role model to mimic. I've been around other toddlers who say 'other' words. Vociferously. Not so cute! :)

      Delete
  4. Yes, what Susan F. said! The power of demonstrating manners and everything else cannot be overestimated. I'm so glad you got a photo of the two little ones in the moment!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That was my daughter's quick thinking. Grandma is a little slower on the shutter button!

      Delete
  5. Replies
    1. Thank you, Lana! I thought so, but I may be a teensy bit prejudiced! :)

      Delete
  6. That is so cool! Thanks for sharing! Teresa from NanaHood

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Teresa! And thank you for visiting! We grammas need to stick together! :)

      Delete
  7. I can just picture the scene. What a cute story. I think painting faces is good. It is true we follow what we see.
    Thanks also for your sweet comment on my last post. I loved that you liked it. I really think you are an outstanding writer and I hate missing one of your posts. I love your memory and wish mine was better. Blessings to you for all the chuckles and smiles you bring to me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, LeAnn! I loved that post. It was so sweet and tender! I was unashamedly crying by the end! Blessings back to you as well!

      Delete
  8. This so true! My oldest went to daycare so I could work. At 1 1/2 years he was potty-trained because he wanted to be like the older boys. My daughter who I stayed home with took quite a bit longer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Never underestimate the power of the big boys at day care! :)

      Delete
  9. That's so sweet! Face painting with a dry brush.
    Look at me please.

    ReplyDelete

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