Interestingly, I think that social media doesn't help this, and in fact, might make things worse.
Most people put their "good face" forward, being much much more likely to share news/pics of smiley, happy kids and parents, than things that are negative or maddening frustrating. I know I do.
It makes you start to wonder, "How is it that those kids seem so happy all the time?"
Maybe they are. Or maybe that was 2 minutes out of the day, and the remaining waking 13 hours and 58 minutes was one continuous tantrum. Or somewhere in between, most likely.
My boys are good boys. They give us hugs and kisses. They smile and laugh uncontrollably. They sometimes even hug each other. They have moments of genuine concern for the well-being of their brothers. They help each other and play nicely together. They sometimes help pick up their messes. They sometimes even follow directions.
Other times their behavior is abysmal. They embarass Mom-E and Dad-E in public. They get "hangry". They yell at each other and call each other names. They punch and kick. They fight over toys and won't share. They talk back to Mom-E and Dad-E.
And the other night, after a day that started out great and an evening that went downhill as small men got hungrier hangrier and more tired, the boys and I had a heart-to-heart talk. Basically, they needed "put in their place."
We went over the laundry-list (including laundry) of all the things that Mom-E and Dad-E do because we love them, care for them, and want them to be good boys. An "A to Z" from "Who makes sure you wake up on time and get dressed?" to "Who reads you bedtime stories and tucks you in at night?"
I think it helped remind them of how much we have to work together as a family.
The next morning, I planned to get up at 6am to workout.
Apparently, I neglected to set my alarm, because at 7:15am, Big Brother came into our room and WOKE ME UP. "Dad-E, I'm dressed. Can we get breakfast?"
I think I'll call it Dad-E's Law. It happens when you're "guilty" of the very same thing you just reprimanded your kids about.
"You better be thankful Mom-E and I wake you up and get you dressed in the morning." So thankful that you wake Dad-E up, after getting yourself dressed, when Dad-E sleeps an hour past his alarm."
Than you, Big Brother, so that I wasn't late for work, and for waking up and getting dressed yourself.
Let's face it. We're all children of God. We're all fallen. We all screw up.
But we're all loved. And we love each other.
We're in this together.
Have a good weekend,
Busy-Dad-E
We went over the laundry-list (including laundry) of all the things that Mom-E and Dad-E do because we love them, care for them, and want them to be good boys. An "A to Z" from "Who makes sure you wake up on time and get dressed?" to "Who reads you bedtime stories and tucks you in at night?"
I think it helped remind them of how much we have to work together as a family.
The next morning, I planned to get up at 6am to workout.
Apparently, I neglected to set my alarm, because at 7:15am, Big Brother came into our room and WOKE ME UP. "Dad-E, I'm dressed. Can we get breakfast?"
I think I'll call it Dad-E's Law. It happens when you're "guilty" of the very same thing you just reprimanded your kids about.
"You better be thankful Mom-E and I wake you up and get you dressed in the morning." So thankful that you wake Dad-E up, after getting yourself dressed, when Dad-E sleeps an hour past his alarm."
Than you, Big Brother, so that I wasn't late for work, and for waking up and getting dressed yourself.
Let's face it. We're all children of God. We're all fallen. We all screw up.
But we're all loved. And we love each other.
We're in this together.
Have a good weekend,
Busy-Dad-E
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Totally agree about social media. And I also agree that "We're all children of God. We're all fallen. We all screw up. But we're all loved. And we love each other." Well said Dad-E.
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