trying to keep smiling: quick trick--mirror, mirror

Ever since Maddy, Owen, and Cora were babies, we've had mirrors around so that they could really get to know their funny little faces.

Mirrors are all over baby toys, but after children pass through that baby stage, the mirrors are gone.

This little Quick Trick isn't much of a trick; rather, it's a little hint--keep the mirrors around. Kids love them.

• Mirror, Mirror: Whenever I find mirrors with magnets on the back (think: locker mirrors from middle school) at the Dollar Store or CVS, I pick up a few. We usually keep one or two of them on the fridge.
  

Sometimes, Maddy, Owen, or Cora run over to the mirrors after a particularly messy spaghetti dinner to check out their saucy faces.

Other days, I'll prop up a mirror against the napkin holder or cereal box and let one of the kids watch himself--or herself--eat. Maybe they're just funny kids, but they love it. They love to watch themselves eat, talk, and do whatever they do at mealtimes. And it can help a bit when manners need some tweaking.

Cora, watching Cora eating lunch.

When Maddy was having a hard time not chewing with her mouth closed, we brought over the mirror so she could see what she was doing.

Yuck, she said, mouth full of food (of course). Food looks gross chewed up in my mouth. Right. Yeeees, it does.

Owen, watching Owen eating lunch.

Sometimes the mirrors end up in the living room, stuck to the fireplace, or sometime they end up in the bathtub. It doesn't really matter, and I don't really care where they are.

I just think it's cool for little people to see themselves with messy faces, wet hair, wind-blown and crazy hair, with hats on, masks on, or wearing dress-ups.

And sure, there's a fine line between creating vain children, but I'm not talking about putting make-up on your children at age three and tying a brush around their necks. The reality is that kids are self-centered; they like to talk about themselves and look at themselves, and we all know that for a good chunk of their childhood, they're hanging out in their own little ego-centric worlds.

It's up to us to teach them empathy, kindness, and to care for and be aware of others. But sure is fun to let them see themselves at unusual times--and to encourage them to get a good laugh at their own chocolate-streaked face or soapy, mohawked hair.