Power of Modeling

On my way to school, my daughter told me that she tricked her friend to eat all of her lunch. "She is smaller than me although she is older than me", my daughter was describing her friend to me. Mama, I had a sugar cookie, and I ate half. I asked if my friend wanted the rest of cookie. She said 'yes'. I told her to finish all her food before she can have the cookie. She ate all of her lunch and I gave her the cookie. My friend always throws the bread away because she does not like the bread.

I could not help myself to laugh; my daughter has learnt well from her own mama and applied it very effectively. Very often, my daughter is eating very slow and picky. We (my husband and I) know that she loves sweets and she always has room for sweets. We tell her often that she can have ice cream or chocolate or some other type of dessert if she finishes all the food in her plate. This has worked really well for my daughter to have well balance meal - well beside the sweets.

I realize the power of modeling as a parent. My daughter is applying how she is treated to others. As a parent, I better be watching my thought and my actions.