When I was younger (like 8 or 9) I had two games I would play with my sisters when we were bored. One was called “Homeless Woman.” One of us would stand in the hallway, pretending we were shivering and it was cold “outside.” Then we would open our bedroom door and invite the “homeless” one in. Then we would give her soup and put her in front of the “fireplace” and give her warm clothes to wear.
Real nice, right?
Yeah, well, the other game was called “Beat It.” Where we would put blankets over ourselves and the other sister would take a belt and beat us. Yes, beat us. You couldn’t feel it because the blankets created a barrier.
So I guess you could say I’m just a ball of extremes. I’m either on or off. No in between. My daughter is the same way.
She’s either the sweetest thing you will ever come across in your whole life or she is an attitude-having, eye-rolling, keeps-on-questioning-me DEE-VAH.
I can’t really say I don’t know where she gets it from, because I’ve seen so many of her outbursts that resemble mine. When she’s upset, you know it and you will continue to know it for a very, very long time. The girl can hold a grudge. For months. She’s still talking about stuff she’s mad about from Halloween.
I’ve been trying to modify or eliminate my bad habits completely. Especially my temper. Most of the people in my life don’t even know I have a temper. I’ve been working on it. But before? Before I decided to make some changes? Oooh-wee, I was a walking personification of “Don’t you f*** with me…”
So now I’m working even harder to make myself better. For my sake but also for my kids. I’m trying harder to treat everyone with respect. To use my manners. To eat healthy. To exercise regularly. To make time for me and make sure that my kids know why. To be kind and loving toward their father. To show that I love them no matter what they do.
My son’s the same way! I see so much of me in him – but I was a single mother for 3 years of his life – his father was in and out of his life – until I met Chris, now Chris has been there from day 1 for Jay & they are inseperable. His father noticed the lack of connection with Jay, so now he’s in his life more often (until he has his new baby sometime this month). But if you want your children to change – changing yourself to be a greater role model is the first step! You go girl!!
You…with a temper??? Girl stop it! I do agree with the part about Ayanna though, she is definitely something else.
I definitely think as a parent it is good to lead by example. I always hated that, “do what I say, not what I do” mess.
Your kids show you who you are. They’re like mirrors. Most of thewir habits and behavior mirrors who you are (or were) now and as a kid. Sometimes my kids do things that are funny/a trip/not so good, and I wonder where they got it from, and then I think, “Oh, I do that”.