Monday Vent - Parenting Skills

Spending time with extended family who have questionable parenting skills is painful.  Watching the impact these poor skills are having on my beloved nieces and nephews is painfully frustrating. 

1.       When your child has a difficult time transitioning and you tell them it is time to leave, you need to leave.  You don’t just sit there for 35 minutes saying, “get your shoes, it’s time to go” while your child alternates between screaming “no” and ignoring you. 

2.       When your child, who is not potty trained although they are well past the appropriate age, refuses to have their diaper changed, that is not the time for bargaining, bribing, and cajoling.  That is the time for decisive action to complete the task with minimal fuss.  You do not necessarily need their permission.

3.       When your child hits their cousin, you should not say in a sickly sweet voice, “oh sweetie, don’t hit, that’s not nice”.  It’s called a time out.

4.       When your child says “no” to you,  that is not the time to get a “deer in the headlights” look on your face and back down.  You need to understand that you are the adult and that you need to teach your child.  You are not doing them any favors by letting them become spoiled rotten children who believe everyone should comply with their wishes.

5.       When 6 adults in a family have finally agreed on a restaurant, the complaints of a 12 year old should not change the decision, regardless of her pouting prowess.

6.       When a child refuses to eat anything but potato chips, the chips should be removed.

I have a lot more, but I think the vent is over for now.   To be continued…

S -)

Your turn! Can you relate? Share your vent. You'll feel better... really!

Bright Side Friday! Florida Fun

My Bright Side Friday has to do with Florida. My parents brought our entire family and cousins to Florida 8 years ago. It has been on my mind the past few years, thinking about how fun that was, and how young my sons were when we went. Finances have not been such for us to take my sons back. I was wishing there were a way to take them back, before they get past the "magical" age of the parks there. My dad surprised us with a trip back there this summer. I was really excited and thankful. Even though I had to cut my trip short, because of work, my sons were able to stay and continue their fun with grandparents and cousins. In fact, they come home tomorrow, so hubby and I will have a chance for date night tonight too! =)

Now it's your turn. What is your bright side?

=J

p.s. The photo is of my sons waiting to board the plane for Florida. I wish I could have heard all of the excitement going on in their heads.

Bright Side Friday!

Friday is here! The weekend is upon us. I just got my son back from a 5 day trip he took to visit with a buddy (that moved away before they both turned 4). Those two get together and laugh it up as if they were never apart. It is amazing to both me and the other boy's mom. I'm glad to have him back home, and happy to know I raised such a sweet and confident boy. It was also nice to have some 1 on 1 time with my other son for a few days. I hope that both of my boys keep at least some of their kind ways into their teenage years.

So now for my bright side: It's days like these that make me reflect upon the job I have done so far, as a mother, and realize that perhaps I haven't screwed things up too badly, because I have 2 really great kids. =)

Now it's your turn. Share your Bright Side. I'd love to add to this positive energy!

=J

p.s. This is a photo of them several years ago. In my heart, I always picture them this big. =)

Monday Vent

Photo Free Post!

Monday Vent is back! Funny how a holiday can mess up your schedule! I remembered in time for Friday, but FAR more people seem to want to vent than share happy news, so I figured I'd make it a whole week of missing posts. So today, finally got a chance to post, as I have had a migraine all morning, and NO that is NOT my vent.

Here is mine: My brother works for my dad (just them). My husband and I work together (just us). My dad has offered to take us all to Disney (which is of course VERY nice and generous). I have chosen to come back early so I can work while my brother has decided that he is going to stay 4 extra days. It is just another example of me working for every little thing and having a work ethic and my brother expecting what he gets plus more with no work ethic. The most frustrating part? My parents are enabling his behavior and expect MUCH more from me than him. I make ALL of my friends promise me, and now I'm asking you too, "If I EVER treat my kids SO differently OR enable one to be less self sufficient than he is capable of being, YELL AT ME!"

Now it's your turn!

p.s. I tried to post a photo but it locked up the site, so... I gave up!

Bright Side Friday!

Well, I'm laughing right now because I looked at the stats and MANY more people read and responded to the Monday Vent blog than the Bright Side Friday blog. Is it because people are being modest? OR is it just human nature to not truly appreciate the Bright Side of life and be too focused on the things you want to vent? I know that sometimes I feel like I have WAY more complaints than good, but that is exactly what this Bright Side Friday is for. To make us stop and really look at things, and acknowledge that Bright Side of our lives that we should be thankful for.

Here is mine: My parents have volunteered to take my kids to Disney World this summer.
(My husband and I are also invited as well as my brother, his wife and their kids. - Keep that in mind for my Monday Vent!) lol

Now it's your turn!

=J

p.s. This is a photo of my kids the last time my parents took all of us to Disney.