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Children See, Children Do

By
Real Estate Sales Representative with RE/MAX Preferred RS152252A

Children, as we all know, learn by example. 

They watch us for clues as to how the world works.

Little LIzze and Me

We can talk to them until we are blue in the face, but if we smoke or drink in excess, it won't matter what we say to them, it's what we do that they will learn from.  If you go to church every Sunday and spend the rest of the day talking badly about the other people you saw there, chances are your kids will grow up to be mean-spirited.  If you smile at people when you walk around the area, stop to hold doors for people, offer to carry groceries for an elderly person and stop when you see someone stuck on the side of the road, chances are your children will grow up to be responsible and kind-hearted adults.  Someone sent me the video and I found it to be very powerful. 

I grew up in the "do as I say, not as I do era".  In some ways, I still believe that this is okay.  For instance, I like to have a glass of red wine at night.  I also swear.  I think children need to learn that there are behaviors that are acceptable for an adult, but not acceptable for a child.  But for the important things, like how to treat people and how to be a human being, we must remember, that our children our watching.

Posted by

Susan C. Mangigian

re/max preferred
117 Campus Blvd, Suite 155, Newtown Square, PA 19073

610-719-1700 main office, 610-299-6237 cell 

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Comments (25)

Susan Mangigian
RE/MAX Preferred - West Chester, PA
Chester & Delaware County Homes, Delaware and Ches

Gary, thanks for visiting.  Have a great weekend.

May 25, 2008 10:12 AM
Gary Woltal
Keller Williams Realty - Flower Mound, TX
Assoc. Broker Realtor SFR Dallas Ft. Worth

Susan, that is such a profound video you found to share Children See, Children Do. It is a great reminder in all our actions that people are watching. I also love Barbra Streisand as a singer. That song, Children Will Listen, is terrific. Don't you think she has like this angelic voice? And what a range of vocal chords. We'll get you to work on that swearing, but I think that Andrew has let you off the hook as a Philly girl, my hopes at converting you are probably fruitless. Red wine is cool though. Thanks for finding this gem and the reminder that little eyes are watching.

May 25, 2008 10:12 AM
Neal Bloom
Brokered by eXp Realty LLC - Weston, FL
Realtor CRS-Weston FL Real Estate

Big Sis? Anyone in there?:))) only kidding.

I'm pretty much the same thing but not every night:)

May 25, 2008 10:52 AM
Susan Mangigian
RE/MAX Preferred - West Chester, PA
Chester & Delaware County Homes, Delaware and Ches
Gary, thanks again for helping me put the YouTube on my post! You are a generous friend. And yes, any attempt to get me to stop swearing will be met with defeat! Can't help it... I am just that way. I saw Barbra Streisand in concert last year, I think it was, in Philadelphia. I was much farther away than I was when I saw Sinatra 32 years ago... how the heck can it be that I was 16 "32" freaking years ago?? Anyway, it was very exciting and an experience I will never forget. She did sing Children Will Listen in that concert. She was wonderful!
May 25, 2008 11:03 AM
Susan Mangigian
RE/MAX Preferred - West Chester, PA
Chester & Delaware County Homes, Delaware and Ches
Hey Little Brother... you better not be drinking every night.... remember... do as I say, and not as I do!! And anyway, my doctor said one glass of red wine every night was good for me. So there... I drink for medicinal purposes!
May 25, 2008 11:05 AM
Pam Winterbauer
Pam Winterbauer Real Estate - San Ramon, CA
"Providing Blue Ribbon Service"
Susan....we lead by example and that pertains to our children. This is a very inspiring post, thank you for sharing.
May 25, 2008 11:32 AM
Chris Fisher
Your Virtual Assistant - Concord, CA

You're so right Susan.  What example am I setting when I have a spaz attack about killing a spider?  Just kidding.  I do my best, I just hope it's good enough for my wonderful daughter.  Great post, thank you.

May 27, 2008 12:29 PM
Arina Hanciulescu
RealtyPros - Las Vegas, NV
RealtyPros

Susan, You are so right. Children becomes what they see and experience in their parents home. Most powerful is the personal example of your parents. I don't have children by I know that all I value and respect in life is the mirror of what my parents showed me.

May 27, 2008 01:14 PM
Kelly Winch
Cascades Sotheby's International Realty - Sunriver, OR
Broker, CDPE
I think you hit the nail on the head. Children learn from our actions far more than anything else.
May 27, 2008 01:25 PM
Susan Mangigian
RE/MAX Preferred - West Chester, PA
Chester & Delaware County Homes, Delaware and Ches

Pam, thanks for the comment.  I hope I am a good example to my kids most of the time... I'm sure I let them down occasionally!

Arina, thanks for the comment.  Your parents, I'm sure, are very proud of the woman you have become.

Chris, you made me laugh.  When my older son was about 2, he was on my front step and I went in to answer the phone.  I could see him through the storm door.  He picked up a fountain Pepsi that I had been drinking and as I watched, he was surrounded by honey bees.  Being a city girl, what the heck did I know?  I panicked!  I picked him up and started running and screaming down the middle of my street, swatting at him to get the bees off of him.  He had multiple stings and his little ears had droplets of blood on them.  My good friend Robyn still reminds me of this sterling example of motherhood (every chance she gets!).  It was about a year before that poor child sat down in the grass and didn't scream every time he saw an ant!  Yep... Mother of the Year!

May 27, 2008 01:35 PM
Chris Fisher
Your Virtual Assistant - Concord, CA

Susan! I wouldn't know what to do about that either! That must have been scary. I'm glad he was okay, and I'm sure you are forgiven. : ) 

May 27, 2008 02:26 PM
Dennis Volz
State Farm Insurance - San Diego, CA
Like a Good Neighbor

WOW!  What an amazing video.  Always thought I was a reasonably good dad, but I wish I would have seen something like that 29 years ago just after my first daughter was born.
NOTHING could be more important than to realize that the children of our world (our future leaders) are all watching all of us.

May 27, 2008 03:13 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

Susan, What  a beautiful post and lyics, I have never heard the song.  I was fortunate enough  to grow up with parents that did as they said....and it set a wonderful example.  They werren't just telling me, they were living it as well. 

May 28, 2008 04:35 AM
Susan Mangigian
RE/MAX Preferred - West Chester, PA
Chester & Delaware County Homes, Delaware and Ches

Dennis, That video really left me speechless the first time I saw it.  Particularly when the children were mirroring an ugliness.  It's easy to look back and wish you'd done something different or better, but the fact is, our kids didn't come with a handbook and we all just do the best we can.  But what a powerful video!

Carole, you are very lucky to have been raised by parents who walked the walk.  Not all children are so lucky.

Michael, my first son's name is Michael.  It is hard to be a good parent and be human.  Sometimes you are just so tired and grumpy and you just want to be left alone but that's not reality.  Reality is, that no matter how tired and crabby you are, when your little one wants to talk you need to listen.  Someone told me once when my Michael was a baby that he always listened to his children when they talked because he knew that if he didn't, someone else, maybe someone without his good intentions, would listen. 

 

May 28, 2008 08:32 AM
Dana Forster
AHome4Sale - Fredericksburg, VA
Realtor, A Home 4Sale Inc, Va

Very powerful video! It is so true that our children learn by example and that we must always remember that our children are watching.

May 29, 2008 02:53 AM
Susan Mangigian
RE/MAX Preferred - West Chester, PA
Chester & Delaware County Homes, Delaware and Ches

Dana, It is true that children learn from example, which is the scary part of being a mom and a very imperfect example of one!  It has it's moments, though, that transcend everything else.  When one of my sons puts his arms around me... well.  No matter what else I ever do, they are the best part of me.  Thanks for commenting!

May 29, 2008 11:48 PM
Jesse Clifton
Jesse Clifton & Associates - Fairbanks, AK

I'll admit... I haven't read all the comments and I would offer something profound... but after this...

I like to have a glass of red wine at night. I also swear.

you can get away with pretty much anything!  Now, pass me a glass of cabernet...

Jun 01, 2008 05:15 PM
Jason Crouch
Austin Texas Homes, LLC - Austin, TX
Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653)

Susan - I saw this video elsewhere recently, and it is very powerful.  Great post!  I am including this one in the Family Ties recap post.

Jun 04, 2008 06:51 AM
Susan Mangigian
RE/MAX Preferred - West Chester, PA
Chester & Delaware County Homes, Delaware and Ches
Thanks Jason! Praise from you is wonderful, thank you for including me in the Family Ties recap post.
Jun 04, 2008 06:57 AM
Matt Moxhay
Prudential Fox & Roach - Moorestown, NJ
Moorestown Real Estate

Children certainly are sponges, and we have to be mindful of what they "soak up" because they are always paying attention (even if they aren't always obeying:-)  That was a very effective video.

Jun 04, 2008 10:33 AM