I am not a parent. I have never been married or had kids.

But I have worked with kids my entire career, and for some of that time, as a summer Camp Director. Any parents who don't think their children pick up their speech, mannerisms, ideas, likes/dislikes, prejudices, habits both good and bad, consider this:

Each summer for many years, I would help hire and then train our summer camp staff counselors. And each week, I did the fairly random job of assigning campers to a particular counselor for that week.

And then one day, midsummer, early on in my camping career, it occurred to me: By Wednesday I could ALWAYS tell exactly which camper was in which counselor's cabin SIMPLY by talking to or even observing the child's behavior. In just 3 days the youngsters had adopted the mannerisms, dress, speech patterns, and unique personality traits of their counselors. Three days! Three days of eating together, playing together, sleeping in the cabins together, hiking together, swimming together, doing crafts and Bible studies together, leading campfires together, all resulted in children that just wanted to be like their revered counselors.

Parents, spend time with your children! Not "quality" time. Quantity time is quality time. They desperately want to be like you, too. They will learn from someone - they want to learn from YOU. Time living life together will impact your child more than you can ever imagine. If, in just 5-6 days at a summer camp, your child comes back singing the praises of his/her camp counselor by imitating them on many levels, imagine what your whole life with them will do!

Patty