Both boys were up early this morning, and punishments were handed out before we even had breakfast. The day was not off to a good start. We took them to visit my husband's family so that we could introduce his grandmother to the baby. They were both good while we were visiting, but our older son had a major meltdown when we said that we had to leave. When we got home, both boys went down for a nap, and my husband and I quickly consulted some parenting books on how to address aggressive behavior. That did not work at all because as soon as M. got up from his rest (no sleeping took place), aggressive behavior resumed.
By dinnertime, we all needed to get out of the house, so we packed up some sandwiches and headed to a local park. The weather was amazing and the boys were great. The baby just rolled around on the blanket trying to pick grass, and then we took a walk down to the bridge. M had so much fun throwing rocks in the stream and was looking at a dam that some beavers had made.
We ended the night on a good note with some giggling, stories and searching google images for photos of beavers.
That sums it up! Highs are defined by lows sometimes, I'm sure you will get past the small moments of aggression. Of course, I just lectured my seven year old on how he needs to be nicer to his three year old brother ... :)
Sometimes the lows make the highs so much sweeter, but it's a challenge to get there some days! They all seem to have these spells they go through...and they all seem to have different little things that they go through. I read a daily devotional one day that reminds us that these things that we have trouble with in the early years are things that will be used in their path later in life...that they do serve a purpose and shape them into who they are meant to be.
Love your composition, and his posture. It's full of curiosity and wonder. Parenting is a terribly tough job. It's always great to end the day with giggles though. 8)
Glad you ended the day with giggles! Parenting is tough sometimes!
Your photo tell a story to me. The tones looks quite grim - I like how it honestly reflects how the boy must have felt. Here he is retreated to his own privacy and looks contemplating - always useful to calm down and soon it will all look brighter!
as a mother of two boys (now 12 and 15) I remember many days like the ones you talk about. It can be so upsetting and worrying and you can feel like a complete failure and very embarrassed. I often thought that I was useless and that my children were worse than anybody else's. Looking back at it now, they weren't that bad and I wasn't that bad, but I did set myself and them very high standards. My son who I worried was aggressive was just very lively and bright. He is now a lovely boy - not perfect, well he is going through the full-on teenage bit, but my worries were completely unfounded.
Cut yourself a bit of slack, one day, before very long you will look back on these days and wonder where they went (in a good way!)
oh gosh! I feel your pain. Some days can be so trying and embarrassing with your kids. My youngest is a loose cannon and I never know what she's going to do. Luckily, as she gets older she's getting better. Nowhere near easy nor perfect, but less frequent and outlandish in her behavior. I'm glad your evening ended on a high note.
Your photo tell a story to me. The tones looks quite grim - I like how it honestly reflects how the boy must have felt. Here he is retreated to his own privacy and looks contemplating - always useful to calm down and soon it will all look brighter!
Oh and wow I actually the the tiles answer right.......woo hoo!!
it's hard being a parent!! sorry you had a tough day:/
Cut yourself a bit of slack, one day, before very long you will look back on these days and wonder where they went (in a good way!)
Lovely photo too!