The power of words in young ears

The moment the snow and ice cleared my family jumped into our vehicle and headed off the hill. Being cooped up for two days wasn’t uncommon but this time it seemed to wear on the girls a little more than normal. Seemingly, with each hour passing, it appeared that time had come to a stop, leaving the girls longing for anything to do as long as it was outside the confines of our home. It was decided that we would make a short trip to Poplar Bluff where the girls and us could eat out and do a little shopping.

As we traveled, Leona and I engaged in our normal conversation about a wide array of things such as work, business, the kids, and life in general. While we spoke, the girls hung out in the back seat, quietly, in a manner that one would scarcely know they were present. As the subject of my wife and I’s conversation shifted to the weather, I couldn’t help but comment on school closings. I began storytelling about how it seemed that closing school because of the weather has become so common now days that it was unbelievable. I commented to my wife, wondering if back in Colorado if they closed it like they do here because when I lived there it had to be pretty severe to close.

Before my wife could voice her response, a voice sounded from the back seat, “This generation is just soft.” Holding back laughter, I looked in the rear-view mirror and noticed my youngest child intently listening to her mother and my conversation. As I did my best to find a good response, the child simply shook her head while her mother laughed, and I did my best to maintain control of our vehicle. I looked at my wife I whispered, “I wonder if she realizes that she’s part of the generation.”

As the words exited my lips my question was answered as the child, in a somber tone, replied, “Yeah… I know.”

My wife and I burst out in laughter again.

As our adventure continued, we experienced several other fun moments of levity. I found myself, throughout the trip, consistently thinking about our daughter’s comment and the importance of choosing our words wisely around our children. You see, just like others I have been known to joke around about generations which differ from mine. Letting the comments slip in jest many times can be taken to heart and especially within the minds of our children become the basis of their worldview. Not unlike the time my eldest daughter, in the early 2000s, entered adulthood and telephoned me asking why we didn’t take a particular vaccination. Inquiring as to what she was talking about, it was discovered that she had heard me several times voice my disdain for a procedure and in a sense formed her belief in those words rather than her own research.

Often, we go about our lives voicing our likes and dislikes with anyone who will listen. In our case, it made for some fun moments of laughter and levity. Will I change my words? Probably not, but I fully understand the impact those words have on my children as they form their opinions about our world. Choose your words wisely around your kids, my friends. They hear you, and although comical many times, it shapes their worldview. Shape them in a positive way, you won't regret it.