Today...

From the parenting passageway...

My child needs practice in handling disagreements because learning how to resolve conflict is so important.

This often means the biggest detriment to teaching my child is myself.  Am I passive?  Am I not consistent?  Do I withdraw my love when I am angry?  Do I explode?  Do I rage?  Do I send a message to my child that he doesn’t live up to my expectations?  Why do I have expectations anyway?  Where did those come from?  Are they realistic for a developmental stage?  Do I make my children take responsibility for my feelings – do they have to step in and be the adult, placate me so I won’t be upset?  My reaction to what someone else does – child or adult – is about MY boundaries as much as it is about setting boundaries for my children.

So, for today:

• Today, I will not be passive aggressive.  I will say what I need, and I will stand there and help my child follow through with what I asked or I will not ask at all.  If it is not important enough to help my child follow through, then it is not important enough to ask.
• Today, I will not yell or rage at my child.  He is just a child and I am the adult.  I am the only parent this child has and I will act like I have learned something in all my years of living and dealing with others.
• Today, I will not perceive boundaries as being “bad”.  If I have a distaste in my mouth for “authority” and “the man”, I will remind myself that I am helping my child learn to function in the world and that discipline is an authentic leadership that guides out of love.
• Today, I will remember to help my child express their needs – and also help them understand that not all their wants are needs.
• Today, I will help my older children see that they can make choices and take on the responsibility for what these choices mean.
• Today, I will not put my children in the position of making decisions which they really are not mature enough to make.  I am the parent, and I help guide things.
• Today, I will help my older children develop self-control by not robbing them of anticipation of something.
• Today, I will take responsibility for my own needs. It is not up to my child to meet my needs.  If I need rest, if I need to exercise, if I need to have time to pray, then I will figure out how to make these important priorities happen so I can be the best parent I can be.
• Today, I will keep the dignity of my child intact even if we have a conflict.
• Today, I will keep the connection to my child and the love for my child alive and well.

WA

Fun was had...

All over the place...

In all kinds of ways...

But now I am weary. 

I am also going to practice saying 'no'.

Go on, ask me something...

Looking around the museum...

One small boy inside with me...

Looking out at the submarine Ovens...

...and down at the slipway...

...and up at big boy and Dad up on top of the sub, beginning their tour.

Natty knitter

On the plane, on the train, my boy the natty knitter is working his way through the rainbow colours to make his own recorder bag. 

14 stitches, checking every row. 

He particularly enjoyed having his wool over the next aisle just for his own amusement.

He is settled in and about to finish blue.

Happy days.

Xx

My boys

In the airport on the way over, my fella asked me to take a photo.

I did. 

I looked at it properly just now.

Happy. Love filled. Comfy in their skins. Going somewhere in all the important ways. My boys.

I laugh sometimes about going to hang out with the chooks to get some female company. But that's a bit if a joke. 

I do love my girls, but my boys, well, they have my heart.

Welcome

My fella and his new nephew - welcome to the family.

Aw, cluck cluck?

In the air...

We left today for the west to go and meet a new family member. The concept of love miles is a difficult one for us. Family in two places and no environmentally great way of managing it...

Putting that issue aside, The flight was pretty amazing. W spent his time divided between knitting and drawing and writing. Oh, we'll, and of course eating!

You can see his crayon box which he made himself in class. I do love this approach to education.

Happy holidays for us and happy wishes for you.

Books

They roll out of bed and reading begins...

Books are everywhere in our house, I call them aesthetic, useful, educational insulation? Is your house well insulated?