Role Models for Our Kids

I have been thinking about what my kids are seeing in the world around them these days and trying to anticipate who they may become based upon the role models they are exposed to. There are those people we would like our kids to emulate. like Peyton Manning for example. This is a man who has worked hard and been blessed with talent. He is clearly the best player on his football team and how does he respond? He goes out and plays his tail off every game, he works hard between games to be sharp for the upcoming week and his public persona is the nice guy a father would not mind his daughter dating (just so long as she is over 30).

There are those that we clearly do not want as role models for out kids. Take the antithesis of Mr. Manning, Terrell Owens. T.O. as he is referred to on the sports shows has gone from a really good player to an OK player and how has he responded? T.O. has long been known as a terrible teammate, self obsessed and arrogant, and over-spoken in public to a point of being obnoxious. Definitely not what I want my kids to aspire to.

So who are the jewels of my genetics looking up to right now? Spongebob Squarepants! Ok, Now you may say that Spongebob is a funny guy who is constantly being stomped on by those around him, but doesn't he always triumph in the end?

So maybe the more important factor in not who the kids are watching, but how you (or me) as a parent communicates with them about who they are seeing. People have good sides and bad sides even if both are not always shown. And in my opinion, the best role models for kids should be the parents. Unfortunately, some parents suck at it in a monumental way, but for those of us that truly care about these things, we should strive to be the best we can be so our kids look to us and not a yellow squishy marine sponge.