Good Parenting Reminders

"A Child's 10 Commandments to Parents"

by Dr. Kevin Leman

1.
My hands are small; please don't expect perfection whenever I make a
bed, draw a picture, or throw a ball. My legs are short; please slow
down so that I can keep up with you.

2. My eyes have not seen the world as yours have; please let me explore safely. Don't restrict me unnecessarily.

3.
Housework will always be there. I'm only little for a short time,
please take time to explain things to me about this wonderful world and
do so willingly.

4. My feelings are tender; please be sensitive to
my needs. Don't nag me all day long. (You wouldn't want to be nagged
for your inquisitiveness). Treat me as you would like to be treated.

5.
I am a special gift from God; please treasure me as God intended you to
do, holding me accountable for my actions, giving me guidelines to live
by and disciplining me in a loving manner.

6. I need your encouragement to grow. Please go easy on the criticism.

7.
Please give me the freedom to make decisions concerning myself. Permit
me to fail, so that I can learn from my mistakes. Then someday I'll be
prepared to make the kinds of decisions that life requires of me.

8.
Please don't do things over for me. Somehow that makes me feel that my
efforts didn't quite measure up to your expectations. I know it's hard,
but please don't try to compare me to my brother or sister.

9.
Please don't be afraid to leave for a weekend together. Kids need
vacations from parents, just as parents need vacations from kids.
Besides, it's a great way to show us kids that your marriage is very
special.

10. Please teach me about Jesus and take me to church
regularly, setting a good example for me to follow. I enjoy learning
more about God.

Struggling

I am an honest person, so I can admit when I am struggling.

That would be now.

Often.

Daily.

More often than daily. That would be 20 times a day. At the least.

I am struggling in my patience with Ella Beth. Lately, everything is a battle with her.

everything.

We are reading an ABC book of Bible verses together (when she will cooperate long enough to get through one letter).

For "A" the verse is: "A soft answer turns away wrath." Proverbs 15:1.

That verse is for ME. I am the one who needs the soft answer.

I am the one struggling not to lose my mind (i.e. lose control over my tongue) when dealing with her behavior.

Scott and I have read one parenting/discipline book recently...but as much as we are applying the strategy, it's not helping to change Ella Beth's behavior.

I can totally see that many of the things she is doing is to get my attention. To combat that, I am trying to schedule 1:1 time with her. But what do I do the rest of the time? Times when she ignores me, or does exactly what I asked her not to do, or doesn't do what I asked her to do? Times when she is just down-right ugly in her tone or in how she treats others?

I never imagined that a 3 year old peanut could cause me such stress and frustration.

I know that there is no "fix" per-say, but can anyone suggest anything? A book? A technique? A specific prayer? (I keep praying that God will help me in the area of patience...however, He seems only content right now to test my patience. I'm losing my patience with that right now, too! Ahem.)

I am sure someone, or everyone, is going to say something like, "Just hang in there. It's a phase. It will pass." But seriously...I need someone to tell me something that's going to help get me through it!