I was having a really rough day with the kids a few days ago. They were not listening, running around like heithens, wrestling with each other till one cried, and I felt like I was screaming all day. They had both been in time out several times which did nothing but pause what they were doing. I was feeling like a terrible mother and was just feeling super frustrated and "done". I was so happy to see Mondo walk through that door. While he made dinner I just gave up trying to clean and get things done and just sat and played with them. They dressed me in a Captain America mask and Iron Man gloves and we did some play fighting. They were in heaven and suddenly I wasn't feeling so stressed and was laughing with them.
That's when the guilt hit. The whole time I had been yelling at them and trying to get them to go play nicely so I could clean up, they just wanted attention from me. I replayed the day in my head of Caleb playing in the playroom or watching tv while I was washing the dogs, doing laundry, cleaning the kitchen, picking up toys, etc. He was bored. He wanted me. Throwing fits was his way of trying to get my attention and all I was doing was yelling at him. I had hardly paid attention to Ethan after he got home from school. Yep, felt like mom of the year.
So, instead of wallowing in my guilt, I decided that I need to make sure I put the cleaning on the backburner and make sure I'm spending adequate time with my kids. The house work will always be there...my kids won't. And we will all be a lot happier.
1 comment:
What a great post, Wendy and an awesome picture!! You're such an awesome Mommy...I have had those days too, probably more than I'd like to admit-what a fun way to turn it around:)
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