Can I say something? I can’t wait to have my partner back home so that we can parent together because it’s rough figuring it out alone! (Although, I know its rough figuring it out period!) I know we are all trying to figure this crazy parenthood thing out and doing the best we can. So- this conversation happened over email with Sam yesterday after a discipline situation with our son.
Sam- “Looks like he’s got quite the personality.”
Me: “oh my gosh its definitely coming out. we have a stubborn, strong-willed but wonderful child on our hands. if you could continue to pray for me as i discipline him. i’m desperately praying for guidance and discernment so that i discipline him in a Godly way that points him to the “why” he acts out and to the glory of God instead of just the “messing up”. i know he might not cognitively understand what i’m saying right now but i don’t want the first time he hears it to be when he’s 5 and understands. plus it helps me claim truth over him and not just see it as an action but also a heart issue. it’s 24/7 nowadays and i just need a little prayer for patience, grace, but most of all that i’ll do it in the way God wants me to. he is throwing major tantrums when he doesn’t get his way and is starting to scream for things instead of ask. and the other night, when i told him no, he hit me in the face. soooo, that was great. i just removed him from the situation and we sat in the chair and i told him that he couldn’t hurt mama because we love our family and we love everyone because God loves everyone so much. we have to have a kind and gentle heart because thats what God calls us to have. i popped his arm, and sat with him while he pitched his fit and told him that we needed to have an obedient and respectful heart and it should show through our actions. i made him sit in the chair until he was done pitching his fit. then we hugged it out and i told him that i forgave him. he definitely understood he did something wrong. is that all ok?”
Sam- “All that is great baby. You’re an AWESOME mom and I want to be a parent like you. I can’t wait to learn from you. And I’ll take care of the whole “hitting mom” thing when I get home – you teach him new testament, I’ll teach him old.”
Me- :/
What I love about parenthood is that everyone can do it completely differently, and I think that’s pretty awesome. Seriously, it would be really lame if every kid turned out the same.
That being said, there are days when I end up yelling in my head WHAT AM I DOING AND WHY IS IT NOT SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE TO DRINK BEFORE 5PM AND WHY IS THERE POOP EVERYWHERE AND WHY ISN’T CANDY CORN A PART OF THE FOOD PYRAMID?!?!
Anyone else have those days? No? Just me? Well, Bud has been pitching some major fits as of late and he can be set off from anything like telling him that he can’t play with the rectal thermometer or that he can’t throw himself down the flight of stairs.
This is after I told him that he couldn’t throw my nice camera off of the bed.
Let it be known, this kid is some kind of acting genius. He was crying over the camera then the dog ran in the room and he went from this face to laughing and yelling “DAWG!” within 5 seconds. Super….
I’m navigating my way through figuring out my discipline style and I think I’m kinda getting it. But, I miss having a partner. How do yall handle tantrums? Time out? Spanking? How do yall handle discipline with your partner/spouse/family? Tag team it? Good cop/Bad cop?
