My little son came to me this morning and said “Doo-WUW! Do What You Want!”.

And he’s not even 3 years old!

For those who do not know, this “Doo-WUW” thing is currently shown on Singapore TV. Two good-looking youngsters are featured apparently telling audiences to “do what you what” or “doo-WUW” (which is the short form of “do what you want”). I nearly fainted when I saw the other tagline on their banner…you judge for yourself.

The trailer is rather short, perhaps a minute or so, but it is certainly catchy to the young. I can’t tell you more about this trailer or the main show because everytime this “Doo-WUW” thing comes on TV I barely pay any attention to it.

But obviously not my little son. He pays enough attention to regurgitate the words (I don’t think he even knows what he’s talking about when he says “Doo-WUW!”) in the same tone as spoken on TV.

My son’s little repertoire reminds me that really it is NEVER TOO EARLY to keep tabs on what TV programs our little ones are watching these days.

They really DO Learn What They See…and Hear .

(Here’s another parent airing her grievances about this DWUW thing …and more !!)

My mum was recently recommended by an eye specialist to go for a cataract operation to improve her vision. She gladly complied and booked a day surgery for the specialist to treat her.

So somebody has to accompany her to the hospital right?

No worries, my siblings and I have an unspoken arrangement to take turns to accompany our parents for such events or for whatever events they needed us for. I felt it was my turn to do so.

And because my mum has to report to the hospital at 7am the next day, I thought the most convenient arrangement would be for me to spend the night at my parents’ place before heading to the hospital together with my mum the next day.

So on the night before the operation, I got myself ready to leave for my mum’s place. My son then asked me where I was going. I told him Grandma was sick and I needed to bring her to the hospital. We exchanged "flying kisses" and I left.

I was told later by my wife that as they closed the door after seeing me off that night, my son told her this, "Next time you go to the hospital, I’ll bring you alright?"

Enough said.

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.