Friday, June 18, 2010

I have good kids... I have good kids... I have good kids...

Some days that is my mantra as I close my eyes and take calming breaths and try to remember that I do, in fact, have very good kids. And that more often than not the behavior that is making me want to pull my hair out and scream is simply an age appropriate pushing of the boundaries or exploration of their world.

Such as Lila's new discovery for the week, that she can open the fridge herself and can therefore get a cheese stick out of the drawer whenever she feels like it.  I am not sure yet if this is an improvement on the Pavlovian behavior of last week that whenever the fridge was opened she would come charging down the hall chanting "dick... dick... dick..."  (She is having trouble pronouncing st-ick correctly.)

I am really struggling with Evie's whiny, tattle-telling right now.  Especially since most of what she has to tell me is really inconsequential.  Like that Lila is putting dollies in the toy fridge or Jake is reading instead of coloring with her. I am working really hard at taking a breath, realizing that it is obviously not inconsequential to her in that moment, and talking to her about her behavior instead of snapping at her for interrupting me for the fifth time in ten minutes.

I am also not in love with a certain seven year old's new behavior of telling me what he is going to be doing instead of asking. The other day I was folding a batch of laundry while watching an episode of Criminal Minds (my currant favorite crime drama), when in walks my son and says, nonchalantly, as he walks over to the TV and starts changing the input, "Hey Mom. I am just going to be playing the Wii for the next few hours."  Any guesses as to how that went over?  Pretty much like a lead balloon.  We had a long discussion about the many problems I had with that little scenario and although we still have to have constant reminders, I think we are making some headway.  (Anyone want to reassure me that that kind of entitlement is a phase and/or something boys struggle with, and not because of an abysmal parenting mistake on my part? Please?)


So I have to enjoy moments like this, when I look out the window to check on the kids and see him being a great big brother pushing his sisters on the swings and playing so kindly with them.  


Or nights like this when Lila was being fussy and fractious and Evie was sweet enough to offer to snuggle in her crib with her.  Moments like these just melt my heart.  Of course, it could also be because some days I like my children best when they are all sleeping...

5 comments:

Emilie said...

I have problems with my kid feeling entitled too. If you find a solution,let me know.

Amanda said...

I always love my kids best when they're sleeping peacefully in their beds :) And don't worry, there are much worse behaviors than commandeering the T.V....and it has nothing to do with poor parenting. As to entitlement being a phase....well, I'll let you know when Spencer and Grace grow out of it.

Unknown said...

They are always sweetest when asleep... until they are teenagers and you can't get them out of bed and you want to kill them because they are sleeping all the time!!! We are never happy as parents are we:)

JD said...

maybe thats why dad put the nintendo on the T.V. in my room...hmmmm....many years it was a treat if we got to hook up the nintendo to the big screen...my suggestion? first it has nothing to do with parenting and all to do with the summer time. Two, pick up an extra power supply and video cable for the wii so you can hook it up easily between two TVs with out having to figure out the cord dismantling. that way he can easily take the wii to another location and occupy himself leaving you to laundry, soapy day time crime drama and the one year old cheeszilla. Love ya sis, we miss you.

(ps: how did you get Lila to like cheese, huck wont go near it unless it is hidden inside something else...weirdo)

Susan said...

You are an awesome mother of wonderful children. Though I kept hearing the music in the background..."You've only just begun..." :)