I am reading a book called "How to Behave So Your Preschooler Will, Too!" by Sale Severe, Ph.D. I bought it in a effort to be a better parent and because the back of the book says, "Bringing up your young child doesn't have to be stressful. Dr. Sal Severe shows you the secrets to raising a happy. well-behaved preschooler." These are secrets I want in on! I want to have them at my fingertips and use them frequently. I want to smile at other parents as they wheel by in the grocery store with a screaming kid while my two angels are quietly walking next to me, holding hands, making daisy chains, sharing bible stories.....you get the picture.
I am learning, thus far, that I have already done several things completely wrong and it is going to take a whole lot of work to fix this broken wagon. See, I have shamed my children, spanked my children, mocked my children, told them to shut up, kicked them in the head, beat them profusely about the head and shoulders. Well, not really but I haven't really been looking at this child rearing as an everyday learning process for my preschoolers. I think I kind of thought that by two or so I was home free. It would be easier some how. I mean after all they have been here for two years. They should know how to act by now. I have been wrong. My friends, I tell you that 5 year olds are a pain in the neck as compared to two year olds and the techniques we have been using on him are not working any longer. So, we are now trying a different approach. Positive parenting. I am going to literally praise him until he turns into the angel I KNOW HE CAN BE! I am going to say, "Landry you ate that cereal so well. You are the strongest most fabulous boy ever." I am going to play Stuart Smalley videos all day. I am going to love and hug and kiss him until he is saturated with positivity. Then after I put him to bed I will quietly drive to a remote location and scream my head off, kick trees and any people who might be in the way, throw stuff, cuss and get out all of the anger I have been stuffing and suppressing all day in an effort to raise well-behaved kids.
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