I don't think I told you the best trick of all yet. It's a trick for you and a trick for your kids. When you feel overwhelmed or the kids aren't listening to you or there is something wrong and you're about to take it out on the kids, SIT DOWN ON THE FLOOR.
Yessireee that is the best advice any parent can be given. You know what happens? Instantly things get better. The kids relax immediately because it's a sign of engagement for them. You relax immediately because you can't move in some fruitless direction. Then the kids become a little happier and start doing things like putting there hands on your face and turning it in their direction which emits that lovely spontaneous bonding moment of ' oh my kid loves me'. and thus the dance becomes a waltz instead of a tug o' war.
Can this work with tweens and teens? Yes... but it makes more sense to them if you have a bag of chips in your hands. Raw carrots and dip works too but that may not be such a spontaneous moment.
There are times words don't work. There are times you have to just change your body position. Take yourself out of play and into play instead if you know what I mean.
There's always a chance for the reset button to work. But remember it takes time to reboot after you hit the reset button. Don't rush it. When you feel that urge to get back up, take two more minutes and breath deeply.
It's all good . It all gets better.
And if by chance you just stay on the floor. There's a blessing in that too.
Enjoy...
Love,
Deborah
About Me
- The Social Contemplative
- What does it mean to be a social contemplative? A person who has spent a lot of time reflecting on a very busy life with diverse experiences that have , in spite of herself, yielded a lot of wisdom she wishes to pass on to others. Deborah loves people but recharges her batteries alone. Sitting in the presence of her own life is mandatory. Reflection and centering happen in the midst of the whirl of a populated world. Born on the East Coast, living all her adult life on the West Coast she is a hybrid of cultures. She is a mom, a writer, and a teacher who sings, reads and swims for fun. And yes she is ordained, but don’t hold that against her. She believes we are more than conquerors and most days there’s a smile on her face because she deals with life in real time. She’s a whole lot funnier than this description makes her sound. Lastly, it’s important to know she’s a paper and pencil gal in a digital world.
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