Sometimes in the rush of our daily lives and work, we tend to get all stressed up over the little things that may throw a glitch in the smooth flow of things. Especially for parents of toddlers, we tend to get irritated or annoyed at their cheeky misbehaviours. It is pretty easy to lose your temper at them when you have had a tough day at work or have a lot of things in your mind. Parenting is more than just raising children, it has a lot to do with patience, love and loads more patience!
I especially have a terrible temper. I am not proud to say that I have shouted at my son every once in a while when he misbehave and yes, I may have even spanked him. And sometimes I’d get so impatient with him when he dilly-dallied when I told him to do things fast. So, it is important that once in a while, I take a step back and calm down.
Well, I have now devised a list of ‘excuses’ on why I should not get mad with him whenever he does not do things I told him to do or when he misbehaves.
1. Whenever he refuses to go to sleep alone – I should enjoy these early years of watching him go to sleep and hugging him on his bed because in 10 years’ time, he probably won’t even allow me into his room much less wants me to cuddle him to sleep!
2. Whenever he refused to eat on his own and wants to be spoon-fed – again, it will only be for these few years before he grows up and does not even want to eat at home, much less be spoon-fed!
3. Whenever he makes a mess if he does eat on his own – at the very least, he is eating on his own.
4. He hates drinking milk and takes almost an hour to finish a cup of milk – at least, he is still drinking it and from a cup too, instead of pouring it away and letting it go to waste.
5. Whenever he leaves his toys everywhere and refuses to put them back into his toybox – I should be glad that he is healthy, active and independent enough to be playing on his own.
6. Whenever I tell him to wash his hands or go to the toilet or to get ready for his bath, he will dilly-dally till I tell him at least five times before doing it – this sure do train my patience a lot and at least, help me learn to keep my temper at bay.
7. His clothes are always soiled after mealtimes because he tend to be a very messy eater – why bother when I have a washing machine doing the washing? No point getting all worked up over this.
8. Whenever he takes his own sweet time in the mornings to get ready before going to nursery – he may be slow but at least he is still eating his breakfast on his own and going to the toilet on his own and finishing his milk on his own although this means I have to repeatedly tell him to finish his milk.
9. Whenever he wakes up in the middle of the night and wants me to go to his room to cuddle him to sleep again – this may rob me of my precious sleep but heck, I am so used to it, I think I will be the one having mommy-baby separation anxiety when he stops wanting me to cuddle him to sleep!
10. Whenever he is rude to me or his father by retorting back to us when we scold him – at least he learns fast and is developing his language skills although I will never encourage this and also, at least he is learning to stand up for himself.
Of course, I will draw the line when it comes to dangerous things like him climbing the window or grille door or jumping down from a high place. This may say much about his physical ability but climbing up high places is not something to be taken lightly.Often, I will mete out very severe punishments for this to stop him from doing it.
So, you see. There are good sides to every misbehaviour and sometimes we should really NOT sweat the small stuff as children grow up real fast and before you know it, they have become sullen, rebellious teenagers who refused to talk to you at all!
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Wow! Since when you became soooooooo nice? Haha!
But it’s true what you said. No point sweating the small stuff. And count your blessings! : )
.-= foongpc´s last blog ..My Very First Li River Cruise (Part 1) =-.
foongpc: Hmmm…must be the hormones lah…mean Foong coming back soon!