Parenting 101

In life and in therapy, there is one topic that I am drawn to, and that is parenting and its impact on children.

It may be the most interesting to me because it’s the most applicable to me. I am in the beginning stages of child-rearing my two sons, and it’s not easy for me. I honestly never wanted to be a parent. I knew my weaknesses and faults, and I felt those weren’t suitable for parenting. I’m lazy. I’m selfish. I don’t like loud and/or repetitive noise. I’m not a good housekeeper. Or cook. I could go on and on… and on. 

God, on the other hand, had a different plan in mind. Just a couple weeks after our two year anniversary, my husband and I found out we were going to expand our family. Again, honestly, it was well into my pregnancy that I even felt excited about the news. In fact, it was at my 20 week appointment, when I saw him on the ultrasound monitor, that I changed my perspective. I am going to be a mom! And to a son! which was very important to me because I feel that the raising of boys is getting the attention that it deserves. I had a duty to raise him to be a leader in the church, a good husband, a gentleman, and good provider. 

But I’m lazy. And selfish. And a bad cook. How am I ever going to raise him that way that I know he should be raised as a Christian and therapist? It’s difficult. He isn’t naturally a good eater; he doesn’t like books or learning in a structured way; he doesn’t sing so I can’t teach him through song; it’s difficult to say the least. And it’s almost 100% my fault. I don’t make him sit down and eat, he stays up late with me and is tired in the mornings, and he has an electronics addiction. 

I write all of this to say, parenting isn’t easy. It takes a lot of consciousness, patience, and even trial-and-error. I am making small goals with him and with myself to correct my faults. We are eating more at the kitchen table. I am making him go to bed earlier by waking him up early that morning so he will be tired, not letting him take naps late in the day, or simply making him follow my direction because I know what is best for him, which is good sleep hygiene. Again, it’s not easy. It may take a few breakdowns (by him and me), but I know in the long run it’s for the better.

(Now we have another little boy. He’s a little easier because he loves food and to sing and books. But as his personality is developing, I realize I have different challenges than with my firstborn.)

This is all we can strive for right?!

someecards.com