I'm reading a parenting book right now called Unconditional Parenting. While I'm not 100% aligned with his view points (specifically his views on praise), he does have some great reminders and insights. One that I thought was a great piece of advice (and also a hard one) is relevant to my Time Kick.
"Don't be in a hurry."
It's great because it can mean so many things.
- Don't literally be in a hurry because kids just don't get it and that will stress you out to the point of adult tantrum. Figure out times in your life when you are typically in a hurry and find a way to reduce the possibility of being in a hurry. (9 am church anyone?) (and let's not forget every day of the week getting Noah on that magical bus so I don't have to get dressed and drive him to school)
- Don't be in a hurry to force your children to act older than they are by disciplining them for every undesirable act. two-year-olds throw food on the floor and step on their older brother's legos. But they also do incredibly cute things like give lots of kisses and shout for joy when daddy comes home. (you don't have to egg them on, but discipline is not necessary in every misdeed)
- Allow your kids to do things at their own pace.
- Don't be in a hurry to have another baby right away. haha okay I just made that one up. Not that I have anything against babies. I love the baby stage. But pregnancy and post partum really screw up my hormones and outlook on life. I don't get depressed but I do get ultra uptight and occasionally frantic. So, no babies for awhile. I'll enjoy the ones I got!
2 comments:
OH yes, 9 am church. I feel the same way. It makes me sad to have to enforce my adult urgency of time on their timelessness. I really feel like they have very little concept of it.
Exactly! so much of what makes life easy when I get to stay home with the kids is the lack of schedules. It would never work for an every-day sort of thing.
Figuring out how to not hurry seems to be a skill that applies to all facets of life. "Haste makes waste" seems an increasingly sagely addage.
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