I struggle with appropriate levels of punishment, especially with a husband who is inclined to react out of proportion (take away something forever, or throw away a beloved toy for small infractions). Different things work on different kids at different times and that is hard to explain to them all, hubby included, sometimes. I just keep hoping that my efforts will be fair-enough over the long haul.

I teach high school and watch the teen-parent dance. I listen to their conversations and wonder what I would do to fix those issues in a teen…they’re things I see, too, in a toddler. Stand your ground and those issues won’t loom so large in years to come, I believe.

And that is why I reserve the right to change my mind. To say “I’ll think about it”

To let them earn it back.

To let this one go this time.

This morning I let the boys have ice cream after breakfast.

Otherwise I feel like a parole officer and it sucks.

Glad to have found your blog for, as you can maybe see from our own little space in the blogosphere, Jen and I are more than just a little bit about “keeping it real.”

Sarah

Anyway – I guess I’ve started to accept that my three kids know that mama is a bit of a yo-yo. I announce that they have just earned a “gold star” on an imaginary chart. I threaten to take away their end of the week reward and then I give in. I stick to my guns at the strangest moments for the smallest offenses. We all do it. Or most of us do.

This is a great post about the reality of being an exhausted mother and “being tired of keeping track of my own parenting.”

That is the truth.

Thanks for linking up!!

Have a great weekend.

Lee

La. La. La. I can’t hear you. (Love this.)

Yes. It gets harder. But some things get easier. Like one of the previous commenters noted, the physical changes make life much easier. But to be sure, the emotional side will start to run amok. There will be a point when everything shifts, I’m sure. But we are FAR FROM THERE. I am hopeful that as the little boys get older and are not so breakable, things will be a bit easier.

I’ve found that spending a lot of time trying to compromise with any kid 5/6 or under is pointless. It’s wasted breath. And it just gives them more wiggle room. And oh, how they will wiggle. So don’t worry about being the tyrant. I’m sure you’re only the tyrant when you compare yourself to your husband which, as I’ve learned, is a dangerous thing to do. In my house we just do things differently, my husband and me. Some of it works better for one of us than the other, but in the end, the job of parenting gets done and all the kids survive another day.

It gets harder? Please say it isn’t so. My daughter just turned three this week. Consistency between my husband and I is a bit of issue with regards to discipline. He is so much more willing to compromise, to spend time discussing and I feel like a horrible tyrant.