Children are like tiny human sniffer dogs that can sense your every weakness and flaw. When they find that deep dark character issue or emotional damage that you carry, they capitalize on it like ants at a picnic. They know the exact wrong thing to say, at the wrong time. For instance they somehow know precisely what you think of your Mother in law and how much you fear the dentist even if you hide those things very well.
Got issues? Ya, then those are the ones the children focus upon, talk about or replicate with an exactitude that is unnerving.
Don’t know what I mean? Here, let me give you an example. If you have social anxiety that shames you… shabam…. one of your kids will come up with those precise behaviours no matter how well you have hidden your stuff. They will do it with flair like they are wearing a big fat neon sign that says “Hey look at what my Mom passed on to me!!”.
Trying to hide your fear of spiders? Then it is guaranteed that Junior is totally going to collect spiders. Conversely, he might make a fool of himself at one of those annoying “pet the arachnid” birthday parties by squealing in terror. Time to share your Atavan with that child.
Either way, whatever you have going on, they know about it.
If you are so tired you can hardly cope, they get needy. (So do dogs and husbands by the way, it is their special skill). Whatever you like least about yourself will bubble up in at least one of your children… guaranteed. It is like a rule or something.
I still remember one of my parents telling me they couldn’t stand the way I talked… now I realize it was because I emulated the asshole in the house pretty accurately.
How do they know? How do they see your soul? How come my inability to do basic math exists in my child? Is it genetics? Is it quiet unspoken queues that we give them?
No… it is the fact that they are evil mind reading little energy leaches… they see your heart, and they will reach in and pull it out…
I am going to make myself a tin foil hat.
advice with a twist: www.magnoliaripkin.com