Oh, be careful little ears what you hear...

Being the mother of a 2-year-old sure has taught me some lessons. Like don't take your eyes off of him in the bathroom unless you want the toilet paper unrolled onto the floor. And don't leave the wipes container where he can get to it, or else your kitchen floor will be slippery for days. (Of course he was only trying to "he'p c'ean fo, Mommy.")

Lately I've been reminded that he truly is a sponge, and I have to be mindful of what I say around him so that I'm not quoted at an inappropriate time. Now, let me be clear - I don't use foul language at all, so that's not what I'm afraid of. But I do have some habitual phrases that I already hear out of his sweet little mouth. There's nothing like a little boy saying "Yep" 27 times a day to make me more aware of what I'm saying... Yep.

So, okay, I didn't realize how often I say "Yep" and "Allright" until I heard these words constantly coming out of my precious son. Do I want him to repeat my bad habits? Of course not, especially at his tender young age. So how do I change my language when I'm not even conscious of what I'm saying? Therein lies the rub.

Motherhood is so many things - fabulous events like the first smile and first word, and mundane things like changing diapers eight times a day or searching frantically under the couch for the lost "baby moo." But one thing I didn't count on was the full-length mirror that would be in front of me day and night, forcing me to examine my habits, my motives, even my beliefs. Whether I like it or not, my child is a reflection of me. The good and the bad, even some of the ugly from which I try desperately to shield him. All I can do is try my best to change the bad habits he reveals in me, pray to the good Lord for help, and count myself very blessed if the worst he gets from me is the tendency to say "Yep" a little too often.