It is so easy to tell someone what to do, but it is not easy to act like you want them to act. There is on old saying that goes “Do as I say, or I will punch you in the genitals and stab up your nose…” but I maybe have the first part wrong. Point is that people are often more influenced by your behavior then your words.

The Munch is officially imitating me so much that it is both hilarious and disturbing. She will see me doing something one morning, and the next morning she will do the exact same thing. I have to be like “Munch, you don’t have a pimple on your chin! Stop trying to pop it!” Or pretend that when she says “Mama farts” over and over again at the grocery store what she is really saying is “Mama cart.” Yes, yes, Munch, that is Mama’s shopping cart. Very smart.

It is making me realize how important it is to become the person I want her to see, rather than hoping she doesn’t notice my less then desirable traits. Where this is played out most is how The Munch treats her baby doll. She will put her baby to sleep like I put The Munch to sleep, she will check to see if the baby made poops, she will encourage her baby doll to eat peas, she will ignore her baby while she talks on the phone, and she will play the same singing games with her baby as I do with her. She is not only noticing my everyday behavior, but also how I am mothering.

Considering how many of my unconscious actions are becoming part of her conscious personality, I really want to be aware of how I am shaping The Munch. No wonder why they say “parenting is the greatest responsibility.” But I guess they also say that “imitation is the highest form…” so what do these people know anyway because you obviously get way higher downing 4 Vicodin with Jack Daniel’s and injecting crystal meth directly into your brain.