Parenting : Things to Remember when Tough Parenting Times Take Place
All parents of more than one child would want their kids to get along. To care for one another.
I mean, no normal parent would enjoy dealing with sibling arguments, petty jealousies and rude behaviours between their children.
Sometime back, I shared some thoughts on this. It was on : FIVE things to AVOID if we’re to encourage better sibling relationships.
Click HERE to have a read.
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“So, after doing your part in teaching and encouraging positive sibling relationships, do YOUR kids still bicker and argue and complain about each other?”, you may ask.
Well, OF COURSE! =)
They may be cute and adorable, but they are no angels.
Just like me and the rest of the world, they are in essence people with sinful hearts and selfish wants.
And when they exist together, conflicts surely take place.
Being a Mom of three, I must say, I have a pretty good share of tough parenting days.
I’ve had days when I feel like knocking my head to the wallI’ve had days when I am just SO dead tired of dealing with tantrums. Days when I feel like giving up and sending the kids to someone else to look after because I feel I’ve failed as a parent. Days when I feel like knocking my head to the wall, because I feel the bickering, arguing, whining and complaining that come from these three little people simply was too much to handle.
(Yes I know, the photos in this post show smiley kiddos. Well, our kids do play with each other, giggle and take care of one another. But realistically, such moments do NOT happen 24 hours a day. We are after all REAL people, btw =)
Well, anyway. You know what?
When tough parenting times take place, I try hard to remind myself these few things:
1. However bad things get, they shall pass.
2. They’ll grow up fast! And I probably will miss all this later.
I can pray for them, I can teach them values, but I cannot change the hearts of my kids. Only God can.3. I cannot expect zero bickering and arguments from the kids. It’s part of them growing up and learning to live with one another.
4. Conflicts are good. Conflicts are good. Conflicts are good. Well, because they allow these kiddos to learn more about compromise, giving, self-control, forgiveness, and even conflict resolution.
5. Pray for the kids. But remember, I can pray for them, I can teach them values, but I cannot change the hearts of my kids. Only God can.
6. God entrusts me with these children, so I too must learn and practice what it means by patience, perseverance and self-control.
7. Lastly, go and eat / drink something I like =)
In my case, it can be either chocolate, sweetened hot tea, bubble milk tea with pearl, or when it’s really tough, Magnum Ice Cream – Almond or Classic.
Yes, sugar gives me that energy boost and charges my battery.
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Ah. May God help us all everyday.
Because being a parent is just not easy.
