Being A Living Example

I really hate the phrase, "Do as I say, not as I do."  I was reminded of it recently while practicing my Spanish on Duolingo, which is a great phone app to learn languages.  That phrase came up while I was practicing Idioms and reminded me that as a parent, I have to be a living example to my children.  If I want to teach them something and have it stick, I have to do it first.

We just had a Fun Show at my local congregation this past weekend and we had a great variety of acts, and even had someone fill in between acts presenting joke monologues while we set up props and rearranged mics on stage. We had as many of the little children that were willing come up and all sing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" together.  Both of my kids were up on stage and my son surprised me and was one of the two closest to the mic.

My daughter was in a skit (with my help, she is just 2 years old) because her brother was supposed to be in it originally and changed his mind.  She was the duck.  If anyone has ever heard of "The Duck Song", I have a question for you - got any grapes?  You might appreciate the picture with this post. :-)  Check it out on YouTube if you've never seen it.

My son might remember our last Fun Show which was actually in January of this year.  After that one I had purposed in my mind to find opportunities for them to find ways to contribute to the next one because of one particular family who had performed a fun family skit together.  They did another great one this time too.

So for this recent Fun Show, not only did my children take part, but I helped MC the show for the first time - one of those times when I was chosen with one other person to do something while not present and ran with it.  I had help thankfully and it was a lot of fun since I didn't have to plan and present it all by myself.  I was able to help organize the acts and did my best with my co-MC to encourage other children to be involved as well.  In addition to that I sang - which I always do since I love to sing - and so my children saw me do that in front of everyone.

I want my children to be comfortable up in front of people.  Or at least work through any discomfort and do it anyway.  Since being a kid I was always surprised at the stat that public speaking was one of the top fears people had - I think it was the top fear, above dying at one point.  I can't say I've always enjoyed being up in front of people.  There have definitely been plenty of butterfly moments and times I have dreaded being up in front of people.  But I have grown because I have had lots of opportunities to be up front, whether through singing, presentations (yay group projects and solo ones at school), and then being involved in drama in High School.  So most of the time I am not (too) nervous so long as I am properly prepared.

When we can consciously prepare ourselves and choose to step up - whether at a Fun Show or otherwise - then we grow and we also serve others.  I want my children to be able to do that and so not only am I encouraging them to do so, but I am being a living example first.

Singing off...a duck walked up to a lemonade stand
Gina

Question for you:

What do you want your children to do (a specific situation you are going through right now) and how can you be their living example to help them do it?