I’ve been sitting around lately, contemplating my parenting skills or, perhaps more likely, my lack of parenting skills.
See, I have been known to yell. Or even hiss something mean to one of my kids if they’ve pushed my last button and I’ve pulled out every last drop of patience and the reservoir has run dry.
I don’t want to be the mom who is mean to her kids.
That’s not to say I want to give in to them on every little thing. No. I want to be the mom who disciplines with love and kindness. The mom who says no with a smile to the request for candy before dinner.
I know I’m only human and I get tired and frustrated and irritable but sometimes I feel like I’m more tired, frustrated and irritable than your average mom. And I hate that about myself.
While at a gathering for my grandmother’s birthday this weekend, a cousin and his wife were there with their two kids. My cousin’s wife is a strict mom but I think she’s a kind one too. Her kids know they’re loved even though they have many rules and she is firm with them.
I am not this woman, I don’t have her temperament or her wardrobe but I want to be more like her as a mother.
I want even the frustrated moments to be drenched in kindness. I never, ever want my kids to think I don’t want them near me or that they’re a nuisance (even when they ARE being a nuisance because let’s face it, kids can do that sometimes.)
It’s not too late for me as a mother. I refuse to believe that I can’t change. But I do know it’s going to take work and a lot of thought and lots and lots of patience on my part, for myself and for my kids.
They deserve for me to try, at the very least. They deserve better than what I’ve given them so far.
A mom, a dad and two daughters. We're living ordinary lives with a twist of 5p- (Cri du Chat) for spice. But we're about so much more than our younger daughter's genetic diagnosis.
1 comment:
One thing that finally helped me as a mother....to remember that I am the one who controls me temper...my children might make me feel angry, but it is all 'me'....I can control, with the Grace of God, my anger. Move my focus to something higher, such as 'making the penalty fit the crime.' Then 'punishment' became more comical....my mind went to 'how do I want my child to remember this moment?' And I wanted us both to remember the scene, a learning experience, but also with fond memories. So. letting a child return to those moments with 'my mom would find a way to make us laugh over the whole thing eventually' was a good start. Enjoy!..I love reading your blog. I love knowing God thinks enough of you and Tom to allow you to be the ones to help your children grow up. I pray you are always aware of God's blessings, even tho' there were times in my motherhood, "God, I don't know why you think I am as tough as you think I am....I cannot handle all this!" And then recall, He said "I am here to HELP you thru' it all." Smile....you touch other people with all God gives you to handle. Blessings....
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