How is it that I could once teach, tame, and entertain a room full of 2 year olds, but the 5 year old, 2 year old, and 10 month old I have at home have me grappling for wisdom and control?
I spent most of the day reading one of the Love and Logic parenting books, feeling hopeful and overwhelmed at the same time. A lot of what the book teaches are the same things I used in the classroom- choices, choices, choices. I loved the advice "give control away when you don't need it, so you can get some back when you do." But man, it's hard. Coming up with two appropriate choices takes a lot of mental energy. Staying calm and positive takes a lot of energy. Keeping up with three different stages of development- takes a lot of energy. I felt a bit like a ping-pong ball today jumping from one issue to another, trying to remember and follow through with the 'best, most appropriate approach' for each child. And though there was still a lot of screaming, crying, and tantrums, I don't think any of it came from me. That's a major success for someone like me who is a natural yeller.
I'm hoping I can stick with it long enough to re-direct some of the chaos that's been brewing around here. Spencer is occassionally being a complete and total alien child, testing boundaries and throwing fits unlike anything I've ever seen from him before. But on the opposite end, he's memorizing songs and belting them out all day long. He knows all the words to "Riding with Private Malone", "The Fox", "The Ballad of Sally Anne", and "Fox on the Run". He plays them first thing in the morning and loves riding his bike by the open windows so he can sing along.
And Sophie- holy moly. That child is amazing in both the negative and positive extremes. Her imagination is incredible. Her verbal skills are getting better and better everyday. And her dramatic emotions are running wild. Her famous line right now is "I can't..." said with as much poutiness and despair as possible. She's recently entertained me with drawing sheep, building with blocks, and stacking magnets like the letters in "Chica, Chica, Boom, Boom".
And little ol' Carson is just soaking it all in, enjoying the ride, most of the time.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Knee Deep in Parenting
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5 comments:
You forgot to add that you tried to make me chip in on your book after you purchased it. Too bad for my kids and there choices, I am not ready to pay for advice! You know, since I have cable, I totally don't need too....
I read Love and Logic and was all excited to use it on Evelyn when she was three the problem was she could out do me on the logic of EVERY choice I gave her. I should try again because Tessa and Henry need lots of help!! (or maybe I need help).
Love and Logic is great stuff, it just requires so much self-discipline and patience on my part. The school districts usually teach classes on Love and Logic a couple times a year and even though I read the book, I keep thinking I should take one just to re-energize myself to do it again. Yelling is just so much easier. :-) I hear, though, that it starts to become second nature once you do it long enough. They say that about eating healthier and exercising, too, but I've yet to have that happen for me!
Livin' your life over here. Trying the same approach and worn out by the dif levels and tantrums - esp today!!! But loving these munchkins! McKay just fell out of bed and since I was up, I got to snuggle him back into bed - the BEST! Sleeping children are so easy to parent! :) Keep up the posts!!!
at least you're a woman who yells...cause let me tell you it is WAY different when a guy does it (cough*your brother*cough,cough). maybe it's being around all you yellers that has made me become more of a voice raiser. i call myself that because i don't think i am a full on yeller...yet.
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