Parents often ask me a question that how to teach our children about good habits. Why they behave in very odd manner even if we teach them to behave. How they develop habits like anger, shout back etc.?

I always tell parents that if your child is not listening to you its not a thing to worry, you should be worried that your child is watching you. He learns everything from you, because he is watching you. Kids have an amazing observation skill which makes their minds like a photocopy machine, everything they see get copied and recorded. Especially they copy to someone whom they consider a role model.

I have a beautiful story to share with you :

A very old man was living with his son, daughter-in- law, and four-year-old grandson. As he was very old so, he was getting ill again and again so the old man’s hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step started faltered. As a custom the family use to ate together at the table. But now the elderly man’ s shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. vegetables fall off his spoon onto the floor. He was not able to hold the glass, milk spilled on the table.

The old man’s son and daughter-in- law get irritated with the mess. So, they decided to eat alone without old man and use to send old man’s food in his room.  There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. The old man use to have tears in his eyes as he use to eat alone in the room. The laugh and voice of family members  eating outside makes him sad and unneeded.  The four-year-old watched it all in silence.

One evening before dinner, the father noticed his son playing with wood and tools on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, “What are you making?” Just as sweetly, the boy responded, “Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up.” The four-year-old smiled and went back to work. The words so struck the parents that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.

That evening the man took Oldman’ s hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days, he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth spoiled.

Children are remarkably observative. Their eyes observe, their ears listen everything, and their mind process the messages they absorb. If they see us patiently provide a happy home atmosphere for family members, they will imitate that attitude for the rest of their lives. The wise parent realizes that every day the building blocks are being laid for the child’s future. Let’s be wise builders and role models. Because Children are our future. Life is about people connecting with people, and making a positive difference. Take care of yourself and those you love, today and everyday!