Hmmm, I think someone is trying to tell me something....

After yesterday's post it should come as no surprise when I tell you that I have been feeling like my parenting skills could use a little work. I mean, if I were a better mom then my two year old wouldn't be so rebellious and naughty. It's probably because my kids eat processed sugar and food dyes....

I am kidding, of course, but it's easy after a hard day to feel like you are failing where everyone else makes it look easy. I was reading through my blog list this morning and the title on The Idea Room jumped out at me. How to Avoid Taking Your Stress out on Your Children. It's part one of a series of posts by a Family Psychology teacher at BYU. I really needed to read this today. And the best thing I took away from it was noticing that some of her ideas are things I already excel at, and some ideas are areas I could work on, and some ideas were things I had never thought of before and am excited to try.

My favorite section of the post is Have Realistic Expectations. Especially where she says, "No one has our unique set of circumstances."  I want to focus on that for the next little while. I need to cut both myself and my baby a little slack and realize that neither of us have been in this situation before. I have said many times to others, "You are great mom! You love little so and so and want to do the best you can for them."  And now I am saying it to myself. I am a great mom. I love Lila (even when she is being a little so and so) and want to be the best mom I can for her. I am going to work harder at meeting her at her level, giving her my attention and making sure she knows that I am really listening to her.

I'll let you know how it goes...

p.s.- I totally plan on implementing these ideas with all of my children, it's just that Lila seems to be the one I butt heads the most with lately and who I feel the most out of control with.

p.p.s.- I really recommend taking a moment to follow the link and read the post, esp. if you have children.