Toddler See, Toddler Do

As a parent, I think one of the most rewarding things we see is our children learning.  From the moment they smile back at you for the first time to their graduation day, nothing quite fills your heart with as much pride.

Then again, one of the scariest things as a parent is the thought that your bad habits will be picked up by your kids.  You hope that they can be the best of you and hope the worst passes them by.

Lately, I've been struggling with stress.  Actually more than lately- since Norah has entered our family.  Nothing exhausts you like having a newborn that won't stop crying, a toddler who wants your attention, and a new puppy to train (who's idea was the puppy again? Oh right...me.)  Slowly the stress has been eating at me bit by bit and in the last two weeks it's bubbled over.

I've been this angry woman that I don't recognize.  I want to sleep all the time.  I just want to leave the apartment and I sometimes just scream because I can't hold it anymore.

The other day I got so frustrated with the girls crying and the dog nipping at my feet that I slapped the couch a few times and then cried out.  To my utter dismay, It scared Evelyn.  If you have never scared your child, I hope you never do.  It was completely heartbreaking.  I gathered her up and told her everything was going to be okay.

She bounced back within a minute, like toddlers do, and then proceeded to mimic me and copy my little outburst.  I laughed to break the tension and we went on with our day.

That night I put on some yoga and relieved some of the stress and anger that has been building inside me.  It's been a few days and haven't been angry or frustrated.  If you find something that relieves your stress, I highly suggest you do it before you burst.

The last few days this has been weighing on me, and I've been wondering what other bad habits my daughter is going to copy.  That is until I saw her with her little baby doll and stuffed animals and she was rocking them in her arms and "shh shh shh-ing" them and then she planted five kisses on their heads like I do with Norah when she is upset.

I can't tell you what it did to my heart- realizing that she did see the good things I do and not only the bad.

However, I strongly advise you watch what you do around children because they are sponges.  They truly pick things up so fast and you don't want to realize your bad habits when your child is doing it.