I have always loved this poem by Dorothy Law Nolte, Children Learn What They Live:
I guess what I always loved about this poem is how true all of these statements actually are to a child. Each child will become what they learn from every person that is a part of their life. Thinking about that, shouldn’t we become more aware of every person in our child’s life… friends, school, daycare, etc. Perhaps we need to be a little more “picky” on who will have contact or interact with our child? We really need to look at who is at their school; who is at their daycare; who are their friends; who are your friends; who is part of their family; who are the babysitters? Maybe we should be asking ourselves…What role will each person play in my child’s life? What will they learn? Are these people positive or negative? Hurtful or helpful?
Her book also does give more insight into these values and what it is that we are teaching our children. Dorothy Law Nolte PhD, Rachel Harris LCSW, PhD. Children Learn What They Live: Parenting to Inspire Values. Workman Publishing Company, 1998. ISBN 978-0-7611-0919-8
If you have read the book, please let me know. If you have feelings about the poem, please share. Thanks!
Parenting Corner 
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