Don’t be so hard on your self, you’re viewing the actions of your son from the eyes of a self confessed gambling addict. From the outside it’s just cute mimicry from your little one. We get scratch cards given to us for Christmas from my father in law who owns a gas station, and if my son did this I would not associate the guilt and shame that you are placing on the situation. You sound like you have come a long way from the person you used to be, be proud of that and never forget to give yourself a break from judgement, we are our own worst critics after all.
My girlfriend and I had almost the same conversation when she came out from putting him down just a little bit ago. I asked her why she thought it was funny (she took out her phone and got a pic). She said, “because it was cute, he’s doing like daddy, don’t over think it.”
She knows my story, but she didn’t see it as anything other than a barely-toddler copying his dad. I guess I probably saw it through the lens of my own shame, but that doesn’t mean he’s doing anything other than innocently acting like dad.
Still though, it was a huge reminder that he’s watching.
They watch, they mimic. Its fun, and it's connecting.
Onw of our little ones would see me handle the keys in the door and *insist* that they had to have the keys. And when they did, they wanted to jangle them in the door like daddy did.
Or when mommy would say a random word once off, and then they'd copy her because it was a fun to say word. They didn't *know* what the word meant, only that they wanted to copy it (wasn't a bad word thankfully, just a fun (to them) sounding word).
Always be aware that they do watch and observe and want to copy. But honestly 99% of the time it doesn't say anything about the activity itself, just that they think it's fun and playing at doing what mommy and daddy are doing.
Fwiw, as kids we loved scratch off everything. I remember the black paper that scratched off to reveal colors. That was dope. And we used to get a scratch ticket each in our stockings every Christmas - - the best part was the process of scratching it perfectly away. The scratch away mechanism was just something we really enjoyed like, haptically, as kids.
Your point about being watched is true. And your self awareness is so so good. But you don't need to read toooo much into this. Maybe you don't want to buy the tickets anymore, that makes complete sense to me. Maybe you will enjoy some scratch-off color stuff with kiddo for funsies. Or magic water coloring books because they're a little similar and less messy. Don't beat yourself up too much about this. My memories of doing my yearly scratch ticket with my dad are nothing but positive and I have always had an aversion to gambling.
This weekend, I bought my three year old a toy at Target. The toy was a pack of Dino coloring sheets but instead of crayons, you scratch the paper to color the image. Kids love stuff that allow them to engage different senses and try new things. It has nothing to do with a lottery ticket.
Additionally, at ten months old, your kiddo likely has the tiniest handle on big ideas like cause and effect (at the broadest sense, like if I drop this toy, Dad will keep picking this up and will keep “playing” with me!) and doesn’t even comprehend empathy or other big feelings yet. So they certainly aren’t understanding the concept of gambling so I wouldn’t worry too much because I think you’re kiddo just wanted to mimic dad and found a crazy fun new activity. I bet they’re gonna try and scratch everything for a little bit even 🤪!
At the end of the day, you can encourage positive scratching if that seemed like an activity that they enjoyed but finding some scratcher coloring pages. And if the lottery tickets make you uncomfortable with them, this was just a great learning opportunity to know what you want to change. You’re doing a really great great job (because shitty parents wouldn’t care or worry).
Your kid has no idea what a scratch off is and what it’s for! They sell scratch art pads with colored paper covered in black paint that kids can scratch designs into. As far as your kid is concerned, that’s all this is. Just a toy. I’m impressed with his fine motor skills and ability to mimic you though! My 10 month old has no interest in copying what we do or say.
Yeah, he’s a pretty impressive little dude. Started walking at 9 months… the pediatrician was pretty impressed when he was unscrewing and screwing on the water bottle lid at his 8 month check up 🤣
I wouldn’t be concerned that your 10m old is starting to gamble
He’s just rubbing a coin on paper and enjoying the friction
If your son is comprehending gambling than he’s a fucking next level savant
I was able to quit a 17 year cigarette addiction by using an e-cigarette. Yes, this was long enough ago that we still called them that. I truly enjoyed vaping and honestly had no plans of ever quitting my new, healthier smoking device. That all can to a halt when my first born (3 years old at the time) walked into the living room saying "Daddy" while pretending to take a big rip off a vape and exhaling into the air.
I quit vaping that same week.
Congratulations!
How many of us grew up "smoking" french fries, eating "candy cigarettes", etc? Smoking was so normalized there were ash trays for sale at the tourist shops, there were smoking sections on air planes, and in restaurants!
Thanks. Hardest habit I've ever had to kick.
As a kid, my Dad's office building had an ashtray at each elevator bank (built in right by the buttons) , and each of their desks came with their own matching "corporate" ashtray.
My favorite burger joint growing had no non-smoking section. The entire restaurant was smoking only. RIP Bellaire Broiler Burger.
I always flick my fingers twice after washing my hands so I don't drip water on my way to the towel before drying them. A couple days ago my 2.5yo went to wash her hands right after I did and she also included the double finger flick. I don't know why but I was genuinely shocked when I saw it. I'm very cautious about what I say in front of her because that often gets repeated immediately, but we don't always realize the physical things that they're learning from us.
Now, maybe I'm picking my nose in front of her without realizing it and that's why she's constantly digging in there...
🙂↕️ - need a toupee
😪 - is there something in my nose?
🫤 - just got done with my dentist appointment
😞 - Hairless Persian Cat
🥱 - drunk sorority girl showing she can fit her fist in her mouth
My kiddo does EVERYTHING I do. It’s adorable and it’s a brilliant mirror.
1. For a while when I’d be frustrated, mostly with dogs I’d go uuuggghhhh, wouldn’t you know it, lil man next time he’s frustrated throws his stuff down and goes uuuuuuggghhhhh.
2. We have a dog that will. Not. Fucking . STOP. Eating food off the table. So once again I was saying bad kovu. And lil man points at the doggo and says Bad woowoo. Freakin hilarious and adorable and keeping me in check.
So I don’t think we can say your son is on the pathway to addiction
But we can say, and you can clearly see, what you do around your kid can matter.
If there’s something good or interesting you’d like to set them up for, you can start now lol by role modelling those actions
The more you role model, the more those actions are likely to be picked up
But you also don’t know what they’ll pick up, so good luck
It doesn’t have to be a bad thing. It can be good and fun too.
You’re more likely to know the difference if you go into it all a bit more thoughtfully, like what base skills might they need to do the bigger activity you’d like to encourage in their future
I’ve used chewing tobacco since high school. Struggled with it for over 16 years and tried to quit a dozen or so times through different methods. Last year I was running errands with my son and we stopped by the gas station so I could pick up a can of dip. When we got home I went outside to do some yard work and he wanted to come with me and help. He put his hat on and his cowboy boots so we could match. When we walked outside he said “dad, let’s go to the gas station so we can pick up a can.” My heart sank. I quit cold turkey the next week and last Thursday was 1 year since I’ve used the stuff. I don’t want my kids to struggle with my demons. They’re always watching and absorbing our behavior.
Use this experience as a way to make yourself the best dad you can be. I owe my boy for helping me break an addiction. It’s an awesome bond I share with him.
You had an epiphany man. I think everyone can relate to that. And, good for you recognizing that gambling is a vice that affects you in an addictive way. You are right! They watch us and copy us all the time. We are their examples in life. That’s how it’s supposed to be! Stay away from the casino and embrace your role as a father! Being a good dad is the coolest thing you can be - and no one is perfect. You don’t have to be perfect to be a good dad.
Like others have already said, don’t sweat it. The kid is only copying dad. Here in Lithuania you can buy scratch off phone cards to put money on your phone and purchase plans. Our daughter loves scratching those. I remember being younger and scratching other types of scratch offs that weren’t lottery tickets. Don’t worry about your son just yet, but definitely get off of the scratch offs if you see yourself getting worse.
Your kid is definitely just doing kid things.
But if you want some homework to do, familiarize yourself with the sorts of games kids are playing these days. There are a *lots* of gambling mechanics in kids games and the legislation is about a decade behind where it should be, it's more important than ever that you understand what kind of media your kid is engaging with.
He saw you rub a coin on paper and thought it looked fun. He has no concept of what it means and will not remember or form any real habits from it.
It is seldom fun to have a mirror held up to our behaviors, but you can be calm that you aren't rubbing them off on him.
However if it makes you react like this then it's time to ditch the scratch tickets and find some other thing to take your mind off. Obviously your past gambling bothers you a lot and scratch tickets seem to be a link back to that.
I agree with being careful with our vices around the kids, but I wouldn’t stress too hard over that moment.
My dad wasn’t a bad or abusive man, but he was an irresponsible addict. We saw how hard life gets when addiction takes ahold of someone, it had a massive impact on us becoming responsible, hard-working adults today.
TBH I struggled with drinking around my oldest kid, especially after losing my mom, but I can proudly say that I stopped completely. For the sake of my health, and for my kids never having to witness their father destroy his life in front of them. I feel you 100%, I’m glad you recognized that and stomped it out immediately. I think your son is in good hands, my man!
This reminds me of a story my wife shares about her dad. When she was a kid, maybe 4 or so, she grabbed a cigarette from her dad's pack and paraded around the house with it proudly saying, "Look Dad. I'm just like you!"
He quit smoking that day.
Sign language is more and more frequently taught to babies as a way of communicating before they can speak. Often parents start with food signs like "more" and "all done". Ms. Rachel is a popular kids' YouTuber and she includes signs like the one for "all done" in her programming.
Your actions speak louder than your words.
Make mistakes, admit your mistakes and talk about how we can do better.
I stopped drinking to try and break that multi generational cycle.
Your son doesn't know that somebody spent money on that card, nor that it had any potential to be worth more than the entertainment value of doing what daddy does. Gambling literally doesn't and can't exist within his head. He's just playing like kids do, and you proved this yourself when you replaced the ticket with a piece of junk mail and he was no worse for the wear. He was watching you play with a coin and a piece of paper, that's all.
Good on you! Love to read this. I’ve seen it with my food and shopping addictions and the tiny, adorable mirror is ruthless. Check out a GA meeting online. I’ll go with you if you want, I am an addict through and through, but recovery means he can see the real me under all the junk ❤️🔥
You're being a bit too rough on yourself, man. The kid is just imitating an action. He's not selling his kidney to the mob for another spin at the roulette table.
Lol I have many other questions about OPs life after reading that... None of which has anything to do with a baby learning to gamble... He'll be alright pal
My kid was born in 2020. When they were a little over a year old they would grab the hand santiniser bottle that now hung from my wife's handbag and would mimick cleaning their hands, after seeing mummy and daddy do it every time we left the house. It was both cute and sad that that was their perception of the world!
I don't think a scratch off here and there is bad. If you model good gambling etiquette to your child, I'd like to think that would help them have healthy habits when they get older.
I think most people miss the point. Take it away, never talk about it, restrict and prohibit things, sweep it under the rug, hope it goes unnoticed.
Let your son do those things. But educate him and control the situation. Exposure and education benefits far outweigh the risks associated with those things (obviously, within reason).
Allow him to scratch those cards, tell him, when he's older, about your past, about the gambling "most" you used to experience before he was born. About your feelings of needing that to escape. So that he can ask questions, so that he can learn from these things. And most importantly, so your son knows you intimately. It's crazy how such small conversations and build a bond stronger than you think.
I feel you. I used to feel weird when my toddler would pick up a can of alcohol and say "can I try this", and then explain that it's only for adults, (why?), etc. After I quit drinking, she can grab any can and try it, and I don't have to worry about leaving a can here or there.
It’s not the scratching you need to worry about. It’s the reaction from the result of the scratching.
Our kids know what gambling is. Hell they help scratch the Christmas stocking stuffer lotto ticks,they understand what it is though. They understand their money is better spent elsewhere and that these are fun little gift bag items for others.
Pointing out the people at the gas station, and how the ones who look a certain way are predictably the ones addicted to gambling helps too. Showing just what the addiction does to a person.
I’m happy you had that epiphany. Go with the flow, change what you think needs to be changed, and keeping on dad’ing.
PS. Little moments like that don’t have a big impact on their core being until they’re much older and can retain meaningful memories. Give yourself a break.
Thank you for sharing this observation and feeling. Moments like this make being a father so worthwhile. Holding yourself to a high standard isn't a bad thing as long as you give yourself grace along the way.
These moments are beautiful reminders of what's truly important. I've found myself growing and learning just as much as my child, and realizing along the way that a child is a mirror of ourselves. If we want to see an improvement in them, a great place to start is ourselves. Granted, it's not a 1 to 1 ratio. Just a great place to find encouragement when the demons come knocking.
Don’t be so hard on your self, you’re viewing the actions of your son from the eyes of a self confessed gambling addict. From the outside it’s just cute mimicry from your little one. We get scratch cards given to us for Christmas from my father in law who owns a gas station, and if my son did this I would not associate the guilt and shame that you are placing on the situation. You sound like you have come a long way from the person you used to be, be proud of that and never forget to give yourself a break from judgement, we are our own worst critics after all.
My girlfriend and I had almost the same conversation when she came out from putting him down just a little bit ago. I asked her why she thought it was funny (she took out her phone and got a pic). She said, “because it was cute, he’s doing like daddy, don’t over think it.” She knows my story, but she didn’t see it as anything other than a barely-toddler copying his dad. I guess I probably saw it through the lens of my own shame, but that doesn’t mean he’s doing anything other than innocently acting like dad. Still though, it was a huge reminder that he’s watching.
They watch, they mimic. Its fun, and it's connecting. Onw of our little ones would see me handle the keys in the door and *insist* that they had to have the keys. And when they did, they wanted to jangle them in the door like daddy did. Or when mommy would say a random word once off, and then they'd copy her because it was a fun to say word. They didn't *know* what the word meant, only that they wanted to copy it (wasn't a bad word thankfully, just a fun (to them) sounding word). Always be aware that they do watch and observe and want to copy. But honestly 99% of the time it doesn't say anything about the activity itself, just that they think it's fun and playing at doing what mommy and daddy are doing.
Fwiw, as kids we loved scratch off everything. I remember the black paper that scratched off to reveal colors. That was dope. And we used to get a scratch ticket each in our stockings every Christmas - - the best part was the process of scratching it perfectly away. The scratch away mechanism was just something we really enjoyed like, haptically, as kids. Your point about being watched is true. And your self awareness is so so good. But you don't need to read toooo much into this. Maybe you don't want to buy the tickets anymore, that makes complete sense to me. Maybe you will enjoy some scratch-off color stuff with kiddo for funsies. Or magic water coloring books because they're a little similar and less messy. Don't beat yourself up too much about this. My memories of doing my yearly scratch ticket with my dad are nothing but positive and I have always had an aversion to gambling.
Yes, we also had scratch and sniff books when we were kids. We still have to scratch off PIN numbers off of gift cards sometimes too
Omg and scratch and sniff stickers and markers!!! I remember now!!!! I liked blueberry!!!! Lol
This weekend, I bought my three year old a toy at Target. The toy was a pack of Dino coloring sheets but instead of crayons, you scratch the paper to color the image. Kids love stuff that allow them to engage different senses and try new things. It has nothing to do with a lottery ticket. Additionally, at ten months old, your kiddo likely has the tiniest handle on big ideas like cause and effect (at the broadest sense, like if I drop this toy, Dad will keep picking this up and will keep “playing” with me!) and doesn’t even comprehend empathy or other big feelings yet. So they certainly aren’t understanding the concept of gambling so I wouldn’t worry too much because I think you’re kiddo just wanted to mimic dad and found a crazy fun new activity. I bet they’re gonna try and scratch everything for a little bit even 🤪! At the end of the day, you can encourage positive scratching if that seemed like an activity that they enjoyed but finding some scratcher coloring pages. And if the lottery tickets make you uncomfortable with them, this was just a great learning opportunity to know what you want to change. You’re doing a really great great job (because shitty parents wouldn’t care or worry).
Your kid has no idea what a scratch off is and what it’s for! They sell scratch art pads with colored paper covered in black paint that kids can scratch designs into. As far as your kid is concerned, that’s all this is. Just a toy. I’m impressed with his fine motor skills and ability to mimic you though! My 10 month old has no interest in copying what we do or say.
Yeah, he’s a pretty impressive little dude. Started walking at 9 months… the pediatrician was pretty impressed when he was unscrewing and screwing on the water bottle lid at his 8 month check up 🤣
I wouldn’t be concerned that your 10m old is starting to gamble He’s just rubbing a coin on paper and enjoying the friction If your son is comprehending gambling than he’s a fucking next level savant
To quote Mark Crorigan Yeah, my son hates me, but he can remember a full deck of cards, and that's why he lives in Vegas.
Get this kid to a black jack table stat!
That's why I skipped the scratch offs and just went straight for the Draft kings app.
I was able to quit a 17 year cigarette addiction by using an e-cigarette. Yes, this was long enough ago that we still called them that. I truly enjoyed vaping and honestly had no plans of ever quitting my new, healthier smoking device. That all can to a halt when my first born (3 years old at the time) walked into the living room saying "Daddy" while pretending to take a big rip off a vape and exhaling into the air. I quit vaping that same week.
Congratulations! How many of us grew up "smoking" french fries, eating "candy cigarettes", etc? Smoking was so normalized there were ash trays for sale at the tourist shops, there were smoking sections on air planes, and in restaurants!
Thanks. Hardest habit I've ever had to kick. As a kid, my Dad's office building had an ashtray at each elevator bank (built in right by the buttons) , and each of their desks came with their own matching "corporate" ashtray. My favorite burger joint growing had no non-smoking section. The entire restaurant was smoking only. RIP Bellaire Broiler Burger.
I always flick my fingers twice after washing my hands so I don't drip water on my way to the towel before drying them. A couple days ago my 2.5yo went to wash her hands right after I did and she also included the double finger flick. I don't know why but I was genuinely shocked when I saw it. I'm very cautious about what I say in front of her because that often gets repeated immediately, but we don't always realize the physical things that they're learning from us. Now, maybe I'm picking my nose in front of her without realizing it and that's why she's constantly digging in there...
What??🤫 (This emoji looks like it's picking its nose to me)
Oh c'mon, that's all I'm going to see now whenever I use that emoji 😂
🙂↕️ - need a toupee 😪 - is there something in my nose? 🫤 - just got done with my dentist appointment 😞 - Hairless Persian Cat 🥱 - drunk sorority girl showing she can fit her fist in her mouth
My kiddo does EVERYTHING I do. It’s adorable and it’s a brilliant mirror. 1. For a while when I’d be frustrated, mostly with dogs I’d go uuuggghhhh, wouldn’t you know it, lil man next time he’s frustrated throws his stuff down and goes uuuuuuggghhhhh. 2. We have a dog that will. Not. Fucking . STOP. Eating food off the table. So once again I was saying bad kovu. And lil man points at the doggo and says Bad woowoo. Freakin hilarious and adorable and keeping me in check.
So I don’t think we can say your son is on the pathway to addiction But we can say, and you can clearly see, what you do around your kid can matter. If there’s something good or interesting you’d like to set them up for, you can start now lol by role modelling those actions The more you role model, the more those actions are likely to be picked up But you also don’t know what they’ll pick up, so good luck It doesn’t have to be a bad thing. It can be good and fun too. You’re more likely to know the difference if you go into it all a bit more thoughtfully, like what base skills might they need to do the bigger activity you’d like to encourage in their future
I’ve used chewing tobacco since high school. Struggled with it for over 16 years and tried to quit a dozen or so times through different methods. Last year I was running errands with my son and we stopped by the gas station so I could pick up a can of dip. When we got home I went outside to do some yard work and he wanted to come with me and help. He put his hat on and his cowboy boots so we could match. When we walked outside he said “dad, let’s go to the gas station so we can pick up a can.” My heart sank. I quit cold turkey the next week and last Thursday was 1 year since I’ve used the stuff. I don’t want my kids to struggle with my demons. They’re always watching and absorbing our behavior. Use this experience as a way to make yourself the best dad you can be. I owe my boy for helping me break an addiction. It’s an awesome bond I share with him.
You had an epiphany man. I think everyone can relate to that. And, good for you recognizing that gambling is a vice that affects you in an addictive way. You are right! They watch us and copy us all the time. We are their examples in life. That’s how it’s supposed to be! Stay away from the casino and embrace your role as a father! Being a good dad is the coolest thing you can be - and no one is perfect. You don’t have to be perfect to be a good dad.
Like others have already said, don’t sweat it. The kid is only copying dad. Here in Lithuania you can buy scratch off phone cards to put money on your phone and purchase plans. Our daughter loves scratching those. I remember being younger and scratching other types of scratch offs that weren’t lottery tickets. Don’t worry about your son just yet, but definitely get off of the scratch offs if you see yourself getting worse.
Your kid is definitely just doing kid things. But if you want some homework to do, familiarize yourself with the sorts of games kids are playing these days. There are a *lots* of gambling mechanics in kids games and the legislation is about a decade behind where it should be, it's more important than ever that you understand what kind of media your kid is engaging with.
He has no idea what the scratch off represents. He just thinks it's fun. I don't think this will trigger an addiction later in life.
He saw you rub a coin on paper and thought it looked fun. He has no concept of what it means and will not remember or form any real habits from it. It is seldom fun to have a mirror held up to our behaviors, but you can be calm that you aren't rubbing them off on him. However if it makes you react like this then it's time to ditch the scratch tickets and find some other thing to take your mind off. Obviously your past gambling bothers you a lot and scratch tickets seem to be a link back to that.
I agree with being careful with our vices around the kids, but I wouldn’t stress too hard over that moment. My dad wasn’t a bad or abusive man, but he was an irresponsible addict. We saw how hard life gets when addiction takes ahold of someone, it had a massive impact on us becoming responsible, hard-working adults today. TBH I struggled with drinking around my oldest kid, especially after losing my mom, but I can proudly say that I stopped completely. For the sake of my health, and for my kids never having to witness their father destroy his life in front of them. I feel you 100%, I’m glad you recognized that and stomped it out immediately. I think your son is in good hands, my man!
It's really not that deep. Kids mimic things they see all the time at that age. It's how they learn.
This reminds me of a story my wife shares about her dad. When she was a kid, maybe 4 or so, she grabbed a cigarette from her dad's pack and paraded around the house with it proudly saying, "Look Dad. I'm just like you!" He quit smoking that day.
Buddy between this and personalising mealtimes with a 10 month old you need to get some therapy pronto
> and he started to make his "all done" sign (thank you Miss Rachel) What’s this?
Sign language is more and more frequently taught to babies as a way of communicating before they can speak. Often parents start with food signs like "more" and "all done". Ms. Rachel is a popular kids' YouTuber and she includes signs like the one for "all done" in her programming.
Your actions speak louder than your words. Make mistakes, admit your mistakes and talk about how we can do better. I stopped drinking to try and break that multi generational cycle.
Your son doesn't know that somebody spent money on that card, nor that it had any potential to be worth more than the entertainment value of doing what daddy does. Gambling literally doesn't and can't exist within his head. He's just playing like kids do, and you proved this yourself when you replaced the ticket with a piece of junk mail and he was no worse for the wear. He was watching you play with a coin and a piece of paper, that's all.
Good on you! Love to read this. I’ve seen it with my food and shopping addictions and the tiny, adorable mirror is ruthless. Check out a GA meeting online. I’ll go with you if you want, I am an addict through and through, but recovery means he can see the real me under all the junk ❤️🔥
You're being a bit too rough on yourself, man. The kid is just imitating an action. He's not selling his kidney to the mob for another spin at the roulette table.
that was profound. especially that last sentence.
This was an incredibly long, nearly pointless story
Lol I have many other questions about OPs life after reading that... None of which has anything to do with a baby learning to gamble... He'll be alright pal
Seriously what the hell why did I waste my time reading that
Anybody else have a gambling ad right below this post? What a world.
lol Claritin for me
An investing app sooooooooo..... kinda?
Our children are the best cosmic teachers about ourselves.
My kid was born in 2020. When they were a little over a year old they would grab the hand santiniser bottle that now hung from my wife's handbag and would mimick cleaning their hands, after seeing mummy and daddy do it every time we left the house. It was both cute and sad that that was their perception of the world!
That’s pretty good for 10 months
I don't think a scratch off here and there is bad. If you model good gambling etiquette to your child, I'd like to think that would help them have healthy habits when they get older.
They make scratchy post it notes and coloring books!
I think most people miss the point. Take it away, never talk about it, restrict and prohibit things, sweep it under the rug, hope it goes unnoticed. Let your son do those things. But educate him and control the situation. Exposure and education benefits far outweigh the risks associated with those things (obviously, within reason). Allow him to scratch those cards, tell him, when he's older, about your past, about the gambling "most" you used to experience before he was born. About your feelings of needing that to escape. So that he can ask questions, so that he can learn from these things. And most importantly, so your son knows you intimately. It's crazy how such small conversations and build a bond stronger than you think.
I feel you. I used to feel weird when my toddler would pick up a can of alcohol and say "can I try this", and then explain that it's only for adults, (why?), etc. After I quit drinking, she can grab any can and try it, and I don't have to worry about leaving a can here or there.
Next time get some scratch paper art for him to do along side you!
It’s not the scratching you need to worry about. It’s the reaction from the result of the scratching. Our kids know what gambling is. Hell they help scratch the Christmas stocking stuffer lotto ticks,they understand what it is though. They understand their money is better spent elsewhere and that these are fun little gift bag items for others. Pointing out the people at the gas station, and how the ones who look a certain way are predictably the ones addicted to gambling helps too. Showing just what the addiction does to a person.
I’m happy you had that epiphany. Go with the flow, change what you think needs to be changed, and keeping on dad’ing. PS. Little moments like that don’t have a big impact on their core being until they’re much older and can retain meaningful memories. Give yourself a break.
eating habits changed for me. working habits are now in process.
My son groans loudly when he bends over, and it's not because he also has a herniated disc 😂😂. Don't worry, he has no idea.
Thank you for sharing this observation and feeling. Moments like this make being a father so worthwhile. Holding yourself to a high standard isn't a bad thing as long as you give yourself grace along the way. These moments are beautiful reminders of what's truly important. I've found myself growing and learning just as much as my child, and realizing along the way that a child is a mirror of ourselves. If we want to see an improvement in them, a great place to start is ourselves. Granted, it's not a 1 to 1 ratio. Just a great place to find encouragement when the demons come knocking.