After putting my son in time out because he was jumping on the chair for the second time, about to hurt himself, I heard him mutter under his breath, “Mommy’s Mean! She never lets me do anything.” With that gruff, he turned his little lips up, scowled to himself, and pouted for a minute before I turned in his direction.
“Son, do you not have a happy heart right now?” I know it seems like an out of the blue crazy question, but in my usual fashion, I asked anyway.
A brief moment passed before he answered, but he finally grumbled, “Yes, I have a happy heart.” It took another 30 seconds or so, but after that affirmation, he stopped grimacing, stopped whining, and sat up straight. He finished his time out, we had a brief talk about actions, consequences, rewards, and his heart.
The quick history behind my question is that we are teaching our children that their actions carry consequences or rewards. I don’t choose their consequences or rewards, they do!
A happy heart is about learning to understand and deal with controlling one’s self even in the most negative of situations. When we learn how to control our emotions, mind, and physical bodies, we will ultimately learn that our choices have placed us in many of the situations we find ourselves (both positive and negative). By developing a happy heart, we will find that our outlook leans more towards the positive, than towards the negative. We begin to seek solutions as opposed to focusing on the problem or what we cannot do.
On the other hand, I almost enjoy being labeled a “mean mommy.”
1. It is the mean mommies of the world that set a standard and don’t back down from that standard.
2. It is the mean mommies of the world that expect and push children to achieve greatness and reach their full potential.
3. It is the mean mommies of the world that love unconditionally and command respect.
4. It is the mean mommies of the world that get looked back on with reverence when the child matures and life’s lessons are absorbed. The child sees the points behind all the lectures, the rules, and the motives.
5. It is the mean mommies of the world that are actually not mean at all, but love their children to a fault and want nothing but the best for them. Out of this love, what is initially perceived as “mean” is really imagination, hope, vision, and desire.
So, I salute all the “mean mommies” of the world and say, keep doing what you’re doing. It pays off, and in the end, our children will look back on us and their undying love will spill out as they realize we weren’t mean at all, but simply being a Great Mom! So, laugh out loud, and enjoy your children today!
Showing posts with label mom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mom. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Laugh Out Loud
This is my first venture into the world of blogging and all I can say is "yay me!!" LOL As a mom, I enjoy delving into new and different things, at least for the sake of the kids to avoid the mundane and repetitive. Well, that's what I say to convince myself that I don't want to remain stagnant.
For instance, it is 2:30am, and I am up on the computer creating and writing this blog. I am actually excited about it, not so much for the physical creation, but because the house is quiet as a mouse! I will stay up late and do things, just so I can do it without hearing calls of "mommy" "Mommy!", "MOMMY!!!" "Mom, Jimmy hit me." "No I didn't" "Yes you did!" "MOM!"
Am I the only one out there right now with an Amen corner? Even if you don't identify with me right now, at some point you will!
Having children can be both a challenge and a joy. I experience both on a daily basis. However, I have come to understand and realize that each day is just one small day in the phase of their growth. Each phase is a quickly fleeting stage that will pass and never return again. Yes, I get upset at times, but I am learning to relax and enjoy it. In the midst of their arguing, my children look at me cross eyed and crazy when I just stare at them with bewilderment and joy. They think I'm a few ounces shy of a pound and I have to explain to them that I am just enjoying them loving eachother. They still don't get it. Things won't always be this way, and I am just soaking it all in.
I then relate it to a Cosby Show episode that I saw where the kids were all screaming in the house either fighting or looking for one another. Cliff and Claire muse over what is happening and even though they are only 2 feet apart, they raise their voices and yell at one another just about their daily conversation. It was done to show their children how they were communicating with one another, but in a comical way. To wit, the kids all came into the livingroom and stared at their parents yelling at one another, "Claire where are you?" "I'm in the livingroom, where are you?" "I'm in the livingroom too. Do you want to go the kitchen for something to eat?" "Yes, why don't we go." Well, you get the picture. The kids just stare at their parents and Denise says "man, they are crazy."
The funny part is watching this show as a young person, I didn't get the reality of the series. However watching as an adult, I get all the inside jokes and really see that even though this was a TV show from the '80's they cover a lot of what we as parents, soon-to-be parents, or aspiring parents can relate to and learn from.
So, Laugh Out Loud and enjoy your children today!
For instance, it is 2:30am, and I am up on the computer creating and writing this blog. I am actually excited about it, not so much for the physical creation, but because the house is quiet as a mouse! I will stay up late and do things, just so I can do it without hearing calls of "mommy" "Mommy!", "MOMMY!!!" "Mom, Jimmy hit me." "No I didn't" "Yes you did!" "MOM!"
Am I the only one out there right now with an Amen corner? Even if you don't identify with me right now, at some point you will!
Having children can be both a challenge and a joy. I experience both on a daily basis. However, I have come to understand and realize that each day is just one small day in the phase of their growth. Each phase is a quickly fleeting stage that will pass and never return again. Yes, I get upset at times, but I am learning to relax and enjoy it. In the midst of their arguing, my children look at me cross eyed and crazy when I just stare at them with bewilderment and joy. They think I'm a few ounces shy of a pound and I have to explain to them that I am just enjoying them loving eachother. They still don't get it. Things won't always be this way, and I am just soaking it all in.
I then relate it to a Cosby Show episode that I saw where the kids were all screaming in the house either fighting or looking for one another. Cliff and Claire muse over what is happening and even though they are only 2 feet apart, they raise their voices and yell at one another just about their daily conversation. It was done to show their children how they were communicating with one another, but in a comical way. To wit, the kids all came into the livingroom and stared at their parents yelling at one another, "Claire where are you?" "I'm in the livingroom, where are you?" "I'm in the livingroom too. Do you want to go the kitchen for something to eat?" "Yes, why don't we go." Well, you get the picture. The kids just stare at their parents and Denise says "man, they are crazy."
The funny part is watching this show as a young person, I didn't get the reality of the series. However watching as an adult, I get all the inside jokes and really see that even though this was a TV show from the '80's they cover a lot of what we as parents, soon-to-be parents, or aspiring parents can relate to and learn from.
So, Laugh Out Loud and enjoy your children today!
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