6 and 9

Six years old and nine years old are both significant ages in childhood. Both the 6 and 9 year olds start feeling a sense of SELF, yes, in CAPS. They are feeling, "Yes! This is ME. I am HERE." Which then translates into, "I don't have to listen to you. You should listen to me. I am HERE."

Parenting Tip..from a child?

I've posted before where I am wondering, "Who's the parent here?" Sometimes, it's hard to decipher...the other day the babe had a play date over.  A lovely little girl that just has such a sweet nature. She came over to me after a couple hours play and said, "D is being mean to me."

My reply: "Oh?"  And by the way, D is always mean to her friends when they are over here for a play date.  She gets mad about something and just is not able to redirect herself.

On the topic of discipline

Sometimes, I sit and wonder, "HOW am I gonna get this girl to listen to me and stop speaking to either of us (the hubs and me) so disrespectfully??!"

Sometimes I feel like the "gentle" parenting approach is bogus.  All you get are a bunch of self-absorbed little brats.  I mean, I have found myself saying to the child once, "The world does not revolve around you, D...."  And of course have thought it a million times more after without verbally announcing it since she probably doesn't quite get it.

Choosing love instead of anger

I'm just going to take my friend's post title and use it!  Here, my friend wrote a beautiful post about choosing love instead of anger.  This post was just what I need as a gentle reminder that I, too wish to choose love instead of anger.  To choose her way instead of mine sometimes.  Or at least recognize what might be going through her mind.

If...Then

Lately, I have been trying VERY HARD not to use the "if...then" proposition.  If you don't do X, then you will not get Y.  That sort of thing.

I've heard it being repeated back to me by my sweet darling.  "Well, if you want me to do X, then you will have to give me Y..."