It’s a running joke that kids ought to come with a manual. Well, no kidding? Sometimes, I feel like I’ve got this thing nailed down. And then, hello, reality smacks me back down into my place and I’m back to wondering, ‘what am I doing wrong.?’ Well, I’d love some insight, ’cause I really don’t know. I’ve tried positive reinforcement , praise, reasoning and finally just being the traditional ‘mean mommy/drill sergeant.’ And I hate to tell you child psychologists out there but these days the drill sergeant is winning out. But I don’t know how long I can keep that up – it’s just so exhausting and guilt-riddled. As if I’m not carrying around enough mommy-guilt. I love my kids. I really love them. And I know it’s my job to teach them how to be good grown ups, be responsible, nice, rational, kind, loving, Christian young men. And I’m trying. But I’m running out of ideas. School behavior is completely unacceptable. If I saw another child behaving that way, I’d automatically think they needed some discipline. But this one is mine and I don’t know if the discipline (the good and the bad) is even getting through to him. It’s clear I’m not doing my job, at least not according to that mysterious manual everyone keeps referring to. If I could only find that manual, maybe I could figure this one out. Until then consider me lost, frustrated and at my wit’s end.
A Happy Distraction (Facebook)