Children watch us more than we sometimes realize. Do you think about what you say or do when you're around them? Do you personally feel that your actions around them influence their behavior?

I hope they emulate my good habits, and laugh at my faults and foibles.

To a degree, but I doubt that my nephew Samuel will grow up to be an angry, cynical misanthrope just because I hang out with him at times.

Yes and yes.

I am always very careful around my 5 and 6 year old niece and nephew, they think everything I say is hilarious. There are times when they will repeat me word for word and I'm thankful that I switched the F word out to farmer. I say silly words instead "Meanie Meanie Bo-beanie" is a popular phrase along with "Good Gravy" and "Frik a Frak big mac" lol. I would rather look silly to other people than to know that when they copy one my bad words it could get them in trouble.

Parents' actions influence their children more than any other.

Do you mean children that are around us in general or our children? +2

I do, not very young children but kids that ar six and above. I am rather cynical and I'm terrified I'm going to say something that a child won't understand or will take the wrong way and their innocence will be tarnished. We all have to grow up and the simple world we live in becomes more complex and black and white blurs into shades of gray and I don't want to accidentally ruin anybody's innocence.

they see and hear and remember. they enjoy sharing what they have learned with strangers at the most ackward moments. It is difficult to always restrain myself at all times but I do make conscious efforts to avoid setting negative examples. Children mimic their surroundings and pattern their behaviors from their peers, either their parents or their friends.

I'm VERY aware of what I say and do around my children

EXCEPT...

...when I'm driving.

Sometimes (I'm embarrassed to say) I'll blurt out a profanity at one of an endless supply of cell phone obsessed, no turn signal using, cracker jack license wielding IDIOTS I cross paths with on a daily basis.

I'm sure I influence them to be angry, eternally frustrated drivers.

i think that our actions do influence them, but i don't tailor my behaviour for them.

i figure they're going to have to grow up in the world however it comes anyway. i'm certainly not going to be the one to shield them from reality.