One of the things that just amazes me about kids is how quickly they learn to mimic our behavior. It seems like the more emotion adults show in any particular action, the higher it ranks with the speed at which our kids repeat it. Take swear words for example (best one I thought). I have, on occasion, been known to let one fly! Not 10 seconds later my fishy cracker eating toddler was giving it a try… in exactly the same tone of voice and just as passionately as good old Mom said it :) Heaven forbid I included any hand gestures :-0 After turning our heads (so we aren’t caught laughing), we appear shocked and quickly correct them with some ill crafted response as to why what we said was wrong and how sometimes grown-ups say things blah…blah…blah…
So keep the mimic factor in mind when you are dealing with your kids on the state of their stuff. Eventually you will get “the question” and it will feel like you just got smacked in the forehead. It should come as no surprise the day your 5 year old says, “Why do I have to pick up my toys and clean up my room? Your room is messy too Mommy!” 
Patterns!!
