Loving Parenting - Again

As I picked  up my kindergartner from school today I asked if she had received a "good day" stamp on her thumb for the day.  Once again she told me the reason she didn't get a stamp was because she was touching others.  I asked her if she thought I should talk to her teacher.  She said "yes" so we waited  until her teacher was free. Her teacher explained she did more than touch.  She pushed someone who had stepped in line in front of her.  When her teacher told her that was not acceptable, Lilly stomped off, with a loud "fine" and then started having a meltdown.  Lilly was good about going to another area of the room to cool off, but her anger was centered on already having said she was sorry. I explained that was typical for Lilly.  She is a very highly emotional individual and has several meltdowns a day over seemingly little things or small frustrations.  One of her beliefs is once she has said she is "sorry" then everything is OK....

Many years ago my grandfather had a small card in his library with the following words of wisdom.  The advice is as appropriate today as it was when I was growing up.  Love never fails. CHILDREN LEARN WHAT THEY LIVE If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn. If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight. If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy. If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty. If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient. If a child lives with encouragement, he learns confidence. If a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate. If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice. If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith. If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself. If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, he learns to find love in the world. Dorothy Law Nolte (1963*) ...

Lillian started kindergarten this week. (It doesn't seem like it has been twelve (12) years since Alexandra was beginning school, but she will be eighteen next week and working on getting her diploma.  Less than a year from now she will be going to college. ) I am, starting a new twelve year journey of meeting with teachers, signing notes, attending IEP, SEP and PTA meetings.  A new era begins of reminding students about and overseeing homework, making sure assignments are returned and tracking test scores and grades.  There are parts of the adventure I look forward to, some I hope I do as well as I did before and others I hope I find I have improved in handling.  As each child is different, though some things may be the same, others may not. Overnight it seems as though Lillian turned a page from a clinging child to an independent young girl.   One day she needed me to be with her to go play and the next day she is asking to go play alone and reminding ...

A few years ago I published a book through Amazon entitled Loving Parenting.   At the time I wanted to share my belief that being a parent is many things.  No matter how we obtain the title, it is our choice how we approach the adventure.  In Loving Parenting I hoped to reach out and touch other parents, offering them a choice to enjoy the journey by looking for the positive moments that come along.    I have been blessed to be the mother of five children, four daughters and a son, all of whom are grown now with families of their own.  Although I was married twice, I spent the majority of the time of their growing years as a single parent.  In order to avoid being or feeling overwhelmed with all the responsibilities and challenges that came my way, I had to learn.  I feel I was blessed with opportunities to evaluate my priorities and thoughts.  I was blessed with some wonderful people in my life who assisted me in seeing that the...