My husband and I have always been very careful about the things we say in front of our children.  It is very easy, though, to slip into catty remarks in front of the boys, especially when we have such little time to just the two of us.  Talking in “code” has worked well for us, but with a pretty bright second grader with big ears in range, it is getting harder and harder.

Case in point: we returned home from a very long vacation yesterday, just the boys and me.  As we met my husband for dinner, our older son went into detail about the “conversation” I had with another driver.  I had assumed my son was asleep!  Thus began a long explanation of how driving is a huge responsibility, and it is important to be safe and always be on the lookout for those that aren’t.  Mommy’s words (and they weren’t bad words, just not said in a very nice way) were a reaction to something that had happened.  And I apologized.

Our children are watching us, learning from us, copying us.  Remember that little eyes are there, and they are on YOU.