Tag: assertive kid

children, gratitude, kids, mommyhood, motherhood, parenting, self-discovery

Watch and Learn

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I had taken the boys to the pool and sat back and watched as they energetically tackled the slide and sprinklers.  At the top of the slide are two attached water cannons.  When the slide gets crowded these cannons become quite popular.  A boy a good head taller approached T.Puzzle and attempted to yank the cannon from T.Puzzle’s grip.  I had to coach myself to stay put and let it unfold.  As much as I wanted to leap to his rescue I decided to see how T.Puzzle would handle it.  Turns out years of assertiveness training from his older brother paid off.  T.Puzzle stood his ground and as the older boy continued to try to intimidate him with words and a few swings of his arms, T.Puzzle didn’t budge.

I learned a valuable lesson.  The minute you stop trying to control something, especially the behavior or circumstances of your children, these are the moments when they begin to show you who they really are.  If you are really lucky they may show you something unexpected.  They may show you that bullies are only as powerful as you allow them to be and sometimes a four year old can handle a confrontation without hesitation.  That’s when you realize maybe you need to start taking notes from your kids instead of always insisting on being the one who is teaching.

children, humor, kids, mommyhood, motherhood, parenting

The Strands of Time

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So, T.Puzzle is going through this thing.  He likes to be assertively independent more so than usual.  Of course this will only apply as he sees fit.  He is adamant about dressing himself yet doesn’t believe in wiping his own bottom.

This can make life interesting.

I picked him up early last week to go to the allergist.  I made him use the potty at school before we left.  It was taking forever so I peaked in on him.  Lo and behold, little man is wiping his own bottom!  Like I said, this is something he refuses to do at home.  Well, game over kid, your stinky tush is now your responsibility.  I say this with a grain of salt and an arsenal of stain remover and extra strength detergent stockpiled  in my laundry room. 

T.Puzzle’s independence has been creeping into other areas.  I ordered him a cheeseburger and fries at dinner with white milk.  When it arrived he had a myriad of complaints.  He wanted chocolate milk and he doesn’t like fries.  First of all, he has never drank chocolate milk in his entire life and secondly, what four year old boy doesn’t like fries?

A contrary one trying be his own man and attempting to turn all his mother’s hair gray.

One strand at a time, folks. 

One strand at a time.

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