I wanted to share a goal I have been working on:
I would like to remain calm, patience, centered, and try to not raise my voice with my children - most of the time. What? You must think I'm crazy! :)
Now, I am not normally one that really ever raises my voice. However, if they raise it first, I will raise it back. :)
It has been a couple of weeks since I really made this a priority, and I can really see a difference. The girls have a different day! If they start to whine, I will whisper back to them rather than whine/plead for them to stop. If they scream, I will whisper back to them rather than scream. Does it make any sense to scream at them for screaming? Do you hit your child for hitting? What's a better way to teach your child to act other than modeling the behavior yourself.
If the whispering, or a nice conversation to figure out what is wrong, doesn't help, I will start to count and they either get it under control or they serve a time out. If they get into a screaming match in the car, I will pull over on the side of the road and let them know that I will begin driving when they are done screaming. I don't engage or talk to them until they are done. This works great! You just have to let go of the fact that you will be a little bit late. :) The pay off is far greater than getting somewhere on time.
So, if you see me with my kids, let me know how I am doing? :)
What a wonderful goal. I'm going to follow your lead and try it. Sometimes it's so easy to fall into the "sassy" trap. I realize now that if my children are acting up (or out) that there must be something I am or am not doing. Children learn 3 ways: by example, by example, by example.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! Act the way you would like them to act. We often notice that they are acting exactly like YOU!
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