In raising my sons, I’ve tried to impress upon them that habits formed in the privacy of our home can easily become unconscious habits in public. So for example, one son, who shall be unnamed, often eats with his mouth wide open, making sounds that I’d rather not hear.  I remind him gently to close his mouth, with the worry that he’ll take this habit into dinnertime at a friend’s house.  Ten years later and it could easily be on a job interview.

Another son, who also shall remain anonymous, likes to pick his nose and chew on the nose nuggets.  I try to remain emotionally neutral as I ask him to please stop. Inside, I’m trying not to wretch.

So my hypothesis, what we do in private, if consistent enough, easily comes out in public was validated by a YouTube video.  The online video of a Congressional staffer picking his nose and then eating his booger, all in the background of a Congressman giving a speech, was captured on C-SPAN.  My family got a huge kick out of viewing the video online (what do you expect with three males?)  And I’m convinced that at least one son will think twice about private habits becoming public…..