Ever have a day where you just feel like a bad parent? Worry about what your kids are/are not learning from you words and actions?
We all do. (It’s not just me, right?)
Those are the days I sit back and take a closer look at my kids to see how I’m really doing.
Here’s how I know I’m doing okay:
1. Every time my preschooler gets her milk from the fridge she also 
gets her little brother’s. Every time.
2. I often hear our preschooler trying to calm her brother down when he gets upset. “It’s okay. Calm down, Honey…” (Very grown up sounding when she does it, mind you.)
3. When McDonald’s had Smurfs in the Happy Meals my daughter saw how much her brother liked his Smurf and decided he could have hers too. No prompting. No whining about it later. All on her own. (Pretty good for a 3 1/2 year old, I think.)
4. Our daughter likes to ask her daddy if he needs a back rub after work. She then proceeds to give him one.
5. When our toddler finds one of his sister’s stuffed animals in the living room, he tells me it is hers and then he runs to find her to give it to her.
6. When he saw his big sister crying the other day, my toddler went and got her “snuggie” for her. (That’s what they call their security objects.)
7. When my toddler was scared to go in his room because the light was off, his big sister said, “I’ll go with you.” Then she took his hand and helped him turn on his light.
8. Last week they were fighting over a new riding toy I had bought our son. His sister was on it and he kept crying, “Mine!” Even though I had told him she was just taking a turn, he was still super upset, and she wound up getting off the toy. He jumped on it and walked it around the kitchen for a long time, and then he said, “Pea’ut’s turn!” and got off and brought it to her. I didn’t even have to ask him to let her have another turn… (No, Peanut isn’t her real name, just what I use on here…) (Mind you, we still have plenty of squabbles, but at least this let me know they DO LISTEN and understand taking turns…)
Your turn. Take a minute today and remind yourself what GOOD things you’ve taught your kids.
How have they shown you what a good job you’re doing?
Oh! And last chance to enter the SafetyTats giveaway!
Mentor James says
Well thinking about the things I have taught my children?.. Well I do have the opportunity to see that my children have learned to watch out for each other. I feel the sibling relationship is the strongest natural relationship, you can possible have, however this relationship the easiest for parents to influence (for the good or bad). So far I feel they are developing well, but only time will truly tell.
Alissa says
Those are my favorite kinds moments. You’re doing great!
I was tickled the other day when we had been waiting for our car to get worked on and the kids were playing in a toy area in the waiting room. When our car was ready I was busy picking up my purse, the baby, tossing my coffee cup and so on; I started to leave and my six year old pointing to the toys, said (in a perplexed voice)- “Mama, don’t you think we should clean up our mess?!” Lol. Glad to know I’ve taught him that!
admin says
Those ARE the moments that let you know they’ve learned something! 🙂
Laura says
Wow that post is amazing! I can imagine sometimes you’re not certain your life is in order, your house is clean enough and your children aren’t well behaved enough. From the looks of it you are doing a great job at raising kind and loving children. Your kids remind of Kids give me hope. Google it and you’ll be crying by the third update.
Sample:
My little brother has severe ADHD and gets picked on a lot. I came home one day from school and wanted to kill myself, I had the razor with me. HE looked at me when I walked in and said, “Kip, some kids were picking on me for making this for you”
He handed me a stick figure of me saying “Best big brother ever!”
You can easily add one of your stories and it’ll fit right in
Blogfrog friend wooed to your blog 😉
Tiffany says
I love this post!
(Oh, and I also love the little math exercise I always get to do when I visit your blog! 🙂 It keeps me on my toes! hehehe….)
admin says
I wish the math plug-in did a better job with spam… Just had to delete 100 new ones….
Your latest post sounds fun…can’t wait to read it!