Just 5 days

We are in the midst of a parenting class..."Loving your kids on purpose".  We've only had the introduction and it has already changed me, or at least been the tipping point and answer to my prayers.

Parenting has been somewhat difficult for me lately.  I have not handled the simplest of situations gracefully.  I have been asking for God's forgiveness and to please change my heart...make it new again.  Help me to see the loving way to discipline these kids instead of yelling...almost...every...day.

I believe my heart has been opened and my prayers are being answered.  This week just seems a little lighter, a little less stressed.  A little more lovely.

So, I am making a goal...can I go, 5 days without screaming at my kids?  I think I can because I have done it three days so far.  Even with the fighting, hair pulling, and tantrums, I feel like this week I have responded better than ever before.  PLEASE let this continue.  I'm not saying it won't be hard, because it seems this week that Carolyn has doubled her amount of tantrums.  But for some reason I am able to stay calm and explain to her my expectations and my feelings. 

I'm trying to answer their questions as if they haven't already asked this same question five HUNDRED other times before.

I'm trying to stay calm when they are out of control...like throw down screaming in the middle of the grocery store tantrums

I'm trying to not care about the small stuff that can be fixed easily...like when I try to be preemptive and change Ben's diaper with enough time to leave, he ends up pooping in his diaper RIGHT as we are leaving, and when I go to change him, he pees all over my face and his clothes, meaning a COMPLETE change in clothes...I'm trying.

I'm trying to laugh more when mistakes are made so that they easily fix the problem, instead of humiliating them for it.  Like when Luke is changing his clothes for the day and I ask him to put his clothes in the hamper and just as I am saying those words, he flings his shirt in the air and knocks over a potted plant...totally laughed this time instead of yelling and it helped everyone:)

I want my kids to know love and acceptance when they think of me, not an iron fist.  So, I'm trying...I'll keep you posted.

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