A day late, I know. Yesterday was Thanksgiving. But today I am reflecting on what I am thankful for, and trying to remember this (actually currently on a minute by minute basis). Recently my prayers have included asking for help in being patient with my children. Oh it is SO easy to be patient with babies, and toddlers. Not quite as much with growing children with strong personalities and minds of their own (can we say a 7 year old boy with an abundance of energy and 2 sisters he delights in teasing??).
I remember though, that I am so grateful for these beautiful wonderful children and one day, yes, one day, this overly energetic son and my budding pre-teen daughter (cringe), independent 3 year old and baby coming and any more who will come to us, will be all grown up and I won’t have my babies to cuddle and children to protect and nurture. That will be their job with their children. So learning to enjoy and revel in this time is vitally important. So yes, I am learning patience. At least I hope so.
“Oh it is SO easy to be patient with babies, and toddlers.”
Interesting comment – it’s been my experience that babies and toddlers test my patience much more than children with whom I can communicate.
I found parenting to be much less trying since I could sit my kids down and reason with them. Maybe it’s a man vs. woman thing.
Well, yeah perhaps, for you. For me, I find them easier, because you can cuddle babies (well and I nurse my babies and toddlers so there-in lies an easy calming process). I think it could be a man versus woman thing.
Reasoning perhaps comes easier as they get older, but it’s not always easy to reason with a boy who keeps haranguing his sisters because he thinks it’s fun. And when you have to do it over and over and over again well, it wears thin.
Now, I should verify, Regan is not totally uncontrollable. Nor is he ADD/ADHD. He’s your average boy who needs lots of creativity, attention and outlets. And he could use a brother. However, I don’t know if that would solve my issues since that would mean two boys doing this all together. I know whereof I speak. I have 4 brothers and three of them were in a row.
“it’s not always easy to reason with a boy who keeps haranguing his sisters because he thinks it’s fun”
I guess it depends on the consequences of the haranguing… ;)
Lol, yes, very true.
Of course I should say he doesn’t CONSTANTLY harangue them, but when he does, it seems to be ongoing forever, ha.
You are expecting a baby? I agree nursing does help a lot. My husband wants me to wean my 15 month old but I don’t want to because it makes her so happy.
Yes, baby number 4. Well, I have to admit I have never weaned, they wean themselves. Only wean if you and baby want it! Otherwise, no need to.
I agree Mary. I weaned my first daughter at 14 months because I was almost due with baby #2 and did not want to nurse both at the same time and it was a misserable 2 months as she went through “withdrawls”. So I would really like my baby to wean herself when she is ready but apparently my husband doesn’t remember those miserable two months.
Yes, it’s hard to remember when you aren’t living in them.
I tandemed nursed my first two and probably will this time too as Aisling has yet to stop entirely. It’s not a great deal of fun, but it is possible with support and information and with your older one, you just have to set boundaries (baby comes first, etc). But if you want to consider it another time, check out LLL for more information. And with your 15 month old now, go to them for information and support too. It helps.
I have moments with my son (1) where patience seems to be gone but overall and especially lately I have been noticing his wonderful innocence, curiousity, and all of his cutenesses (do you like my word). He is a great example to me.
Yes, they are great examples, our children! I suppose this is why the Lord has them teach us. Thanks :)
Rick.. are you talking about rationalizing with older children as teenagers or just older then toddlers? When you sit down with these older children are there actual lines of communication opened on BOTH ends or is it just you talking and the child inwardly thinking oh man this is the same conversation we had LAST WEEK>?
By ‘communicate’, I meant a two way dialogue.
I speak, they listen – they speak, I listen.
I’m sure we have similar conversations every week, but then the subject matter we go over is also pretty common.
I’ve been speaking to my kids like I was speaking to an adult (some vocabulary changes) since their births. I’m not much for speaking down to my kids – I’d just assume they figured out how to communicate like adults from the get-go.