I have spent a lot of time lately complaining about all of my little ones becoming not so little.
As I start to tread into the pool of the teenage years I had decided that I was not going to like the big kid pool. Except I wasn't really paying attention to the big kid pool because I was too busy looking at the pool I left behind.
I have been so caught up in what I was loosing I wasn't paying attention to what I was gaining.
A tiny voice in my head kept telling me to knock it off. However, it is the same voice that tells me to grow up. I'm not to fond of that voice.
Between that voice and the mere fact that I simply could not keep craning my head backwards I have actually started to pay attention to the pool I now find myself treading.
First of all I have to say contrary to all the rumors the water is nice. While emotions may run a little crazy my teenager and soon to be teenagers have yet to turn on me. It is ironic that tantrums still occur when one of them has not had enough to sleep or to eat. In that regard things haven't changed much.
What has changed is the companionship. This past weekend the girls and I went to the mall. It was fun to wander around the mall window shopping. It was nice to get a second opinion on a few purchases I am planning on making. It was even better than when Brent goes with me. There was no eye rolling and are we done yet questions. The girls even enjoyed an hour of browsing in Tai Pan. It was almost like hanging out with friends.
Another benefit was pictures Saturday morning. A. woke up on the obvious bad side of the bed. He was grumpy and wanted nothing to do with pictures. He was in the process of taking the whole family down with his remarks and bad mood.
It occurred to me that the pictures meant nothing to him. Although, they meant a lot to me he could care less. When a toddler decides they could care less there is little to nothing that can be done.
However, A. is old enough to know better after several calming breaths he and I had a little chat. I explained to him how important the pictures were to me. I told him I understood that they weren't important to him just like video games are not important to me.
Then I said, "How do you want me to act next time you want a new video game?"
A halo did not suddenly appear over his head but the picking on others ceased.
I like that negotiation is so much more apart of parenting. Walking a balance between what you want, what I want, what is best for you, and what I just want for you. I like that the kids have their own opinions and are developing their own path.
In my mind I see 4 individual paths stretched out before each of them. I guess I'm getting a little curious at what life has planned for these four kids that I'm lucky to love.
As I start to tread into the pool of the teenage years I had decided that I was not going to like the big kid pool. Except I wasn't really paying attention to the big kid pool because I was too busy looking at the pool I left behind.
I have been so caught up in what I was loosing I wasn't paying attention to what I was gaining.
A tiny voice in my head kept telling me to knock it off. However, it is the same voice that tells me to grow up. I'm not to fond of that voice.
Between that voice and the mere fact that I simply could not keep craning my head backwards I have actually started to pay attention to the pool I now find myself treading.
First of all I have to say contrary to all the rumors the water is nice. While emotions may run a little crazy my teenager and soon to be teenagers have yet to turn on me. It is ironic that tantrums still occur when one of them has not had enough to sleep or to eat. In that regard things haven't changed much.
What has changed is the companionship. This past weekend the girls and I went to the mall. It was fun to wander around the mall window shopping. It was nice to get a second opinion on a few purchases I am planning on making. It was even better than when Brent goes with me. There was no eye rolling and are we done yet questions. The girls even enjoyed an hour of browsing in Tai Pan. It was almost like hanging out with friends.
Another benefit was pictures Saturday morning. A. woke up on the obvious bad side of the bed. He was grumpy and wanted nothing to do with pictures. He was in the process of taking the whole family down with his remarks and bad mood.
It occurred to me that the pictures meant nothing to him. Although, they meant a lot to me he could care less. When a toddler decides they could care less there is little to nothing that can be done.
However, A. is old enough to know better after several calming breaths he and I had a little chat. I explained to him how important the pictures were to me. I told him I understood that they weren't important to him just like video games are not important to me.
Then I said, "How do you want me to act next time you want a new video game?"
A halo did not suddenly appear over his head but the picking on others ceased.
I like that negotiation is so much more apart of parenting. Walking a balance between what you want, what I want, what is best for you, and what I just want for you. I like that the kids have their own opinions and are developing their own path.
In my mind I see 4 individual paths stretched out before each of them. I guess I'm getting a little curious at what life has planned for these four kids that I'm lucky to love.
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