Copycat
When your child starts to mimic everything you do, it takes you much by surprise.
One day, they're sitting there, innocently cooing and just taking it all in. Suddenly, you drop a bag of groceries and say something seemingly tame ("Oh, darn.") When your child looks up and repeats that phrase, you realize you have to shape up, and fast. (Of course, I haven't had this exact thing happen to me yet....but I've heard other parents telling of their experiences. So far, Gardner's just imitating the stuff that's okay to mimic.)
I read him a book and make silly noises for the cars and trains. Minutes later, he's re-reading it to himself, making the "clang clangs" and "toot toots" and "bbbrrrrrrrs!" that I had earlier. I clap along to a certain song on the radio, and he starts to clap along to any music he hears, even musak being piped through department store speakers. I hear some good news and throw my hands in the air, triumphantly projecting, "Woo hoo!" He stares, pauses, then points at the ceiling. "Oooh Ooohh!" Ken and I burst into hysterics.
From the breathy "P.U." I make while changing his diaper, to the "Yum yum" I say when I'm eating a cookie after dinner....he says it back to me, nearly every time.
Gardner is picking up on everything. He wants to be just like me. He wants to be just like Ken. He sees what we do and uses it as a base from which all of his behavior stems. Quite a responsibility. A flattery, yes, but also a great responsibility.
(Since you're armed with this newfound knowledge, just know this: If you come over to our house, don't be teaching him things such as "Good game" or "Go Georgia Bulldogs." We have security cameras everywhere.)
One day, they're sitting there, innocently cooing and just taking it all in. Suddenly, you drop a bag of groceries and say something seemingly tame ("Oh, darn.") When your child looks up and repeats that phrase, you realize you have to shape up, and fast. (Of course, I haven't had this exact thing happen to me yet....but I've heard other parents telling of their experiences. So far, Gardner's just imitating the stuff that's okay to mimic.)
I read him a book and make silly noises for the cars and trains. Minutes later, he's re-reading it to himself, making the "clang clangs" and "toot toots" and "bbbrrrrrrrs!" that I had earlier. I clap along to a certain song on the radio, and he starts to clap along to any music he hears, even musak being piped through department store speakers. I hear some good news and throw my hands in the air, triumphantly projecting, "Woo hoo!" He stares, pauses, then points at the ceiling. "Oooh Ooohh!" Ken and I burst into hysterics.
From the breathy "P.U." I make while changing his diaper, to the "Yum yum" I say when I'm eating a cookie after dinner....he says it back to me, nearly every time.
Gardner is picking up on everything. He wants to be just like me. He wants to be just like Ken. He sees what we do and uses it as a base from which all of his behavior stems. Quite a responsibility. A flattery, yes, but also a great responsibility.
(Since you're armed with this newfound knowledge, just know this: If you come over to our house, don't be teaching him things such as "Good game" or "Go Georgia Bulldogs." We have security cameras everywhere.)
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