When my second son was about three, my father would challenge him to keep quiet for
five minutes and win small money.
So my boy would stand in front of his grandpa, straight as a rod and try his best to be
tight-lipped. During one time, it appeared he was finally going to claim his prize as my
father announced the fourth minute. Even we became silent spectators, edging him on
when, from out of the blue, he blurted out loud, “what’s a minute? “ And we all burst out
laughing. Somehow, Papa knew all along his talkative little apo wasn’t going to get his
fiver because he was always asking questions. We encouraged him to be such. Prize
or no prize, we just said keep at it kid, so much that, a presenter at a bird show almost
lost his cool after having been interrupted by a tiny man saying excuse me…
My son and I were stuck in traffic one day when, while watching the continuous line of
cars in front of us, I told my son, I’m willing to bet someone will lose his patience and try
to cut in. A few seconds tick by and sure enough, a white sports utility vehicle overtakes
the rest of us and slowly maneuvers its nose towards a small gap between two vehicles
up ahead. No rocket science, predicting that. No ESP involved either.
Little kids, still pretty much raw at controlling their urges, are easier to read. That’s why,
the norm is, it’s the grownups’, i.e., parents’ or elders’ responsibility to guide the young
when the time comes. At this, it’s likewise doubly important to note, children are wont to
look to grownups as their models. So, when it comes to following rules and norms,
grownups on the other hand, should know better.
The SUV sneaking in the lane may not be the perfect example of this so, how about
cutting in at grocery lines with your kid in tow? This might be more relatable, since
almost everyone shops and not all drive cars.
I’ve seen puzzled looks on children while their moms try to argue with fellow shoppers
about their transgressions and at the same time, I’ve likewise witnessed embarrassed
looks on people’s faces whenever they’re found out. For both scenarios, not exactly a
pretty thing to see. Yet, it is what it is. Only thing, at the littlest insignificant acts that we
do, our rugrats will try their best to mimic. A few years later, the die will be cast and it
will have been their turn to be role models for the next gen. As they say, the wheel
turns.
