I think this is obviously obvious, obviously.

But how much can I remember this and internalise it into my parenting skill-set? I do not know. Because at moments of vulnerability, we as parents can cave in to our old habits and unknowingly pass on undesirable habits to our little ones who are constantly "looking up to us" as role models.

I give you an example.

Instead of caning, I sometimes discipline my son by snapping my index finger onto him. The action is done by first connecting the index finger and the thumb into an "O" shape, before releasing the index finger with force onto the desired destination of pain. (To be fair to me, I threaten with the action more than I inflict it onto him)

Of late, I notice he has also started to threaten the same action onto me when he is not happy with me. I was very surprised the first time he did that. But I did not reprimand him for doing so, partly because I felt guilty he has picked up the action from me. Immediate to my concern was what if he starts doing this to his fellow classmates? And they then learn the action and use it on one another!!

It is one of those times when my knowledge of "children learning what they see" comes to crystallization. And I feel disgusted when it was a bad habit that has crystallized.

In this case, on reflection, I think this is not a very wise way to discipline my son. I will make it a point to stop it totally and hope he does the same too.