Sunday, July 26, 2009

Getting a glimpse of yourself

There is nothing like getting a glimpse of how you react to certain thing through your children. As I grew up, when I misbehaved - which wasn't often ;) - I got a spanking. I never had timeout. So, new methods are confusing to me. How much help is it in showing your child what they did was wrong by making them sit down by themselves? I do timeout, I just don't always get it. Anyway, that doesn't mean I don't spank. I don't beat my children...so don't report me! But, sometimes a swat on the butt is what is necessary to get the point across that what they are doing isn't right.

As I sit here on a Sunday night trying to finish a work project, I'm watching my children play. And now that I'm writing a blog, I'm not really getting much work done, am I? :) Anyway, they are taking turns giving each other a swat on the butt, saying take my hand, then walking each other to the corner and making the other sit in timeout. I have to say it is hilarious, but each time it is their turn, their voices are getting louder and louder. It makes me see that as they repeat a misdeed, my patience is smaller and my voice level when punishing gets louder and louder. I don't want to be that parent that is constantly yelling at their kids. If nothing else, this will remind me that sometimes it is necessary to take a deep breath as I'm punishing so I can keep a calmer demeanor. I want my kids to have a good example and know that even though I am punishing them, I still love them!

1 comment:

Thomas said...

LOL! I had a similar experience.. It was when Arya was just barely 2 and she was spanking her babydoll and yelling "go to sleep!" This was when I realized that I was going about bed time completely wrong making it a really negative thing for her. Since then, I've changed my tactics a little and she does bed time much better :)There is nothing like your children teaching you lessons right?!