When my little beasts are in full on battle mode, I am prone to make some parenting choices which I struggle to categorize as either good or bad. So I am asking you to tell me…Shame or Pride? :
1. My children were arguing over a coveted, single balloon brought home from a beloved friend’s birthday party. So I calmly walked over…and popped it. Crying ensued. Shame or Pride?
2. I bought my kiddos a drink from Starbucks (only because Mama needed some caffeine and thought caving would lessen the chorus of begging), which they were all clawing for. So I calmly pulled over, asked if I could see it…and proceeded to throw it in the neighboring trash can. Crying ensued.
3. My children were fighting over a water gun in the bathtub. So I asked if I could please see it, filled it up…squirted each of them directly in the face. Crying ensued.
4. When one of my children refused to eat their vegetables, I found the most decadent dessert in the house, gave it to the other two, with the explicit instructions to eat it as slowly and dramatically as possible directly in front of the remaining rebel. Crying ensued.
Shame? Or pride? Please feel free to share your own parenting inquiries, but please omit all advice on my gems above. The only allowable responses are “Shame” or “Pride.” I am aware of the alternative parenting practices. I didn’t use them. DVIA moms…know that you are sworn to secrecy on these. KA may never know of these unapproved methods. Former ECE students and CAVA families…know that none of these moments are based in educational theory and should NOT BE TRIED AT HOME! Alright…based on these warning labels alone, I am going to have to give one vote for “Shame.”
With parenting strategies like mine, it is no wonder that when it really comes down to it and one of them ends up in the big T.O., it is rare that they actually sit alone for long, as one of their sucka siblings (often the victim in the scenario) is always quick to join them in a united force against their real enemy…the one who prayed so hard for what I thought would bring us all happiness. Ha! Maybe next time I will just pray that God gives me grace.