So, mommy had a temper tantrum and threw the broken part on the floor. Yes, I felt like a right ass immediately afterwards, just in case anyone is wondering. I vowed to myself when I started this blog that it was NOT going to present only the pretty parts of my life; I don't want any mother reading this blog to think that I'm Supermom, or to feel inferior because of what I write about parenting. We raise our voices in this house, we put movies on (sometimes two in a row!) so we can sleep in on a Saturday morning, we threaten to take toys away when they fight, and bribe with ice-cream. I would say these "not-so-great" parenting techniques rolled in right around the time our third child was born. We call it survival. We hope to gradually "improve", but for now, we're still kind of in survival mode.
My heart was racing with frustration and with annoyance at myself for my poor role modelling (it's pretty tough to tell a small child to "use their words" when I can't even keep my adult-self in check sometimes!) Daddy had to leave for band practice, and I knew that hour till bedtime was going to be a long one.
So we went outside. Bless the great outdoors for their calming influence! We blew bubbles and listened to the it-just-might-rain kind of wind. Everyone calmed down, and when bathtime rolled around, everyone was their happy selves again. I must remember that when our tempers get the best of us, the best thing to do is to scoop everyone outside for some free-range play.
What was your parenting lesson of the day?
hi, what a funny story! thanks for sharing....
ReplyDeleteA while back I was just SO sick of seeing our kitchen table full of clutter...I took my arm and in one sweep of the table, cleared it of all the mess. My family looked at me open mouthed...like I had gone mad, and I declared, "the table is CLEAR!!!" I so enjoyed my little temper tantrum, and eating off a clean table was SO worth it!!
ReplyDeleteWe deserve to have the odd outburst and temper tantrum...we're human too!!!
xo much love to you mommy
maureen
Oh yes, getting outside is a MUST in mama's-gone-mad moments. That's actually why my blog picture from yesterday is of my "Just 3 Kids" out in the yard. But my mama-madness was not as story-worthy as yours -- just generalized grumbling. But the outdoors, a camera and "just 3" of my favourite people soothed my soul (until I ventured back in to the disaster of my home). Must. Stay. Outside.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy, the most, authentic blog posts. Thank you for sharing. It helps me to feel 'human'...even though my dearest daughter just called me a 'superstar'..hahaha...
ReplyDeleteK
I thought that the falling-on-your-ass-on-the- floor was the punchline and that everyone burst into laughter at the mama sprawled on the floor in a heap of broken chair.........
ReplyDeleteYour true ending was better than my Disney one.
Yes, the outdoors can save us some days.
I found your blog through Ravelry. This post speaks to me in so many ways.
ReplyDeleteRecently, My 4 year old little guy called me an ass. Yup. Well, I caught myself a few days later saying this word and my little echo heard me. So, not my finest mommy moment. Sigh..we are only human and must first learn to forgive ourselves...
I think a temper tantrum every once in awhile can set the world back where it needs to be. ;) Besides, it's good for kids to see that grownups sometimes have bad days, or get frustrated, or whatever. Then, they get to see how we deal with the aftermath of the tantrum, too. I think it's all good.
ReplyDelete