An impeccably dressed little girl ‘furiously’ biked past me. Then she yelled to her grandfather who was jogging alongside to ensure that she did not fall, “You don’t respect me!” He sheepishly smiled at me as he ran to placate her. I was amused. Momentarily.

What does a 5-year-old know of respect? It had to be something she had heard. Her rapidly evolving brain put two and two together and she used it as she thought it appropriate. Just last week, I had received a video that showed an exceptionally cute two-year-old mouthing profanity. It was obvious that she had no clue about what she was saying. Her angelic appearance and the words that fell out of her mouth were at odds.

It took me back many years. I had asked my little one to do something for me while he was watching TV. Without missing a heartbeat, the sweetest and most helpful child said, “I don’t have time for this!” How mortified I was to hear myself from his mouth.

The importance of being mindful of our words and actions cannot be overemphasized. Children emulate what they hear and see. Their worldview is being formed every minute. What is cute from the mouth of a two-year-old is positively distressing when it is uttered by a teenager. You never know who you may be influencing. Wash your mouth with soap if you say something that would horrify you if you heard it elsewhere. And be grateful to the companies that make wonderful edible soaps. I am!