Recently I noticed that I've begun to write the year in the inside corner of all the cards I sign; it's small and at the bottom, but it's there in case you ever wondered in what year you got the card from me in. The reason this habit stood out to me is because my mom does the same thing.

Growing up we learn from our parents, we mimic things that they do and say catching on to phrases or the 'right' way to bake cookies. Our parents/guardians are the examples that we see every day as we develop and become a person on our own. So we watch the adults in our life and we mimic them; my dad is patient and levelheaded in all situations, now I practice patient in my life and think through decisions before making them.

Not only do we (children) mimic behaviors we see, but we inherit traits from our parents as well, whether we know them or not. Maybe it's the way you roll your eyes, or the gentle way you comfort someone, or your snarky sense of humor, chances are one of your parents does this the same way. In the Harry Potter series we constantly hear Snape tell Harry over and over how he is exactly like his father, and Harry never knew him. For all those things you don't know how or why you do them like you do, it may be because of your parents.

As you go through life possibly as an older sibling, a nanny, a parent, a grandparent, or any other steady role in a child's life, remember that they learn from you. We pick up on your personalities, likes, dislikes, the way you talk about other people; and make sure that the impression you're leaving with us is a good one.