A school board in Florida wants to set a dress code for parents. One of the members of that board, Dr. Rosalind Osgood is concerned about the saggy pants that expose dads’ underwear and moms who wear curlers in their hair as they drop kids off for school.

Her line of thought is: “It’s hard for me to tell a child not to show up for school with pajamas or short shorts if they see parents wearing them. Parents need to lead by example.”

A dress code for parents isn’t going to work, but the logic is clear. Kids are watching what their parents do and often emulate it, occasionally to our chagrin.

Not too long ago we celebrated Mother’s Day and then Father’s Day. These special days give us a chance to honor those men and women who have the awesome privilege and responsibility to raise kids in a manner that prepares them to serve the Lord all the days of their lives.

Those special holidays also focus our attention on the truth that our kids are watching us.

Randy Atkins has a country song out with that same title. The words are quite convicting:

“Driving through town just my boy and me, with a happy meal in his booster seat.
Knowing that he couldn’t have the toy till his nuggets were gone.
Green traffic light turned straight to red, I hit my breaks and mumbled under my breath.
His fries went a flying and his orange drink covered his lap.
Well then my four year old said a four-letter word that started with “s” and I was concerned. So I said son now where did you learn to talk like that?

He said, I have been watching you dad, ain’t that cool.
I’m your buckaroo, I wanna be like you.
And eat all my food and grow as tall as you are.
We got cowboy boots and camo pants, yeah we’re just alike, hey ain’t we dad?”

The song goes on to say that the dad went home, bowed his head and prayed. He asked the Lord to please help him to be a better dad. At bedtime that night, the little boy knelt by his bed too, and prayed just like he had seen his dad do.

They really are watching.

So this week, let’s all keep a sharp eye on our on behavior. Let’s give those little guys something good to watch.

By His Grace and for His Glory,
Sherry L. Worel