Today is one of those days where I think that it actually might be easier to be a Pioneer traipsing across the plains toward the Valley-o than trying to get my kids to follow even the simplest of instructions without my becoming an absolute ogre in the process.
I can't help but think about a long-ago Mother's Day sacrament meeting program in my home ward where some well-meaning Primary president passed a microphone to a group of kids up in front of the congregation and asked them to tell their moms something about what makes them a good mom. My sister Joce, doing her best with such spontaneous instruction, gives out her best parenting advice: "Yell the first time, instead of the last." Oh, dear Joce, the ward members may have laughed at that comment (and the way I remember it, Mom was none too happy about the whole thing), but I'm currently thinking that it's the most sage parenting philosophy that I've ever heard.....
I can't help but think about a long-ago Mother's Day sacrament meeting program in my home ward where some well-meaning Primary president passed a microphone to a group of kids up in front of the congregation and asked them to tell their moms something about what makes them a good mom. My sister Joce, doing her best with such spontaneous instruction, gives out her best parenting advice: "Yell the first time, instead of the last." Oh, dear Joce, the ward members may have laughed at that comment (and the way I remember it, Mom was none too happy about the whole thing), but I'm currently thinking that it's the most sage parenting philosophy that I've ever heard.....
......because I've spent the whole day feeling like I've said little more than: no, stop, don't, come here right now, would you rather go to your bed today, leave your sister/brother alone, listen to what I'm telling you, don't whine, does there need to be a consequence, when I say to do something I mean right now, this is about the tenth time I've told you, why aren't you dressed yet, you really need to figure out when it's not appropriate to be silly, I don't care, why would you treat him/her like that, I can't listen to you when you're crying, I really don't want to get upset at you, please listen to what I'm saying, that's one..that's two...how many times do I have to say NO!
At least if I were a pioneer and my kids kept totally disregarding whatever instructions I had given them about the chips-for-fuel gathering, I could just go on and leave them behind because they would probably find some other wagon to join where there was a much nicer mother who liked to sing as she walked and walked and walked. And then maybe she'd actually know how to positively motivate them to do something, if not the first, but at least the second time she asks. Lucky them.
7 comments:
All I can say is, "Amen" Sister!
It sounds like your Pioneer day was as great as mine. And while I strive to not love Joce's advice I've sure been using it a lot lately.
I hear you. Well, we did have a wonderful Pioneer Day picnic this evening, but earlier in the day I spent at least 10 minutes just on getting Mabel to repeat something she'd said rudely/whinily in a more polite manner -- she'd choke out the correct words but still in an angry voice, or she'd finally get the tone right and then stomp on her way out of the room. I thought it would never end. (It finally did.) Eventually she asked if she could take a nap and even though I had intended for her to get some chores done first, I just said yes since I wouldn't have to listen to her complain any more.
Anyway, hang in there. Sorry you couldn't have eaten KFC and squash and potato salad etc. with us this evening!
Oh, someone else who missed Pioneer Day as much as I did! We should have gotten together for a barbeque or something! You are such a great mother, even if you don't feel like it somedays. I actually SAID to Ali yesterday, "Do you know how long it would take you to walk home from here??" Not one of my finer moments. May tomorrow be better than today! =)
I love that the best part of being a pioneer parent is that you can leave your kids at the side of the trail! A new twist I never thought of.
I'm glad you discovered the un-privatized nature of my blog. You are welcome to stop by anytime, and certainly don't have to consider doing so lurking. I stop by here frequently. Comments of any length are always welcome (I tend to comment a bit more voluminously than most).
It really raised my coolness-value when I casually told Doug and Katrina that I was your next door neighbor back in the day and that you were my cousin's best friend. I guess you and yours are still the talk of the ward here in Berkeley.
What a cool ward, by the way.
For some must yell and some must shout as we go marching up the hill.
Let me just tell you I wouldn't have been the singing mom either. Just the grumbly whiny mom yelling at her kids and cursing the humidity and mosquitos.
Hang in there because you are a great mom.
You have been the singing mom so many times for my children back in Berkeley! So you know!
We are getting ready to come home and after 2 months on the road, dragging the angels everywhere with me I am just ready for school to start again!
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