Kicking and Screaming

Yesterday was one of those days where I wished there was a Human Resources department for parenthood because I wanted to complain about harsh working conditions and hand in my resignation. We had meltdowns in private and in public, tantrums, tears and the requisite “I don’t like you right now!” And that was just from me! Ha! Seriously, I couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to all that knowledge about raising children I had when I was a childless woman? Why, my kids were never going to have a tantrum in the middle of Target, or tell me they didn’t like me because I wouldn’t buy them a Star Wars toy. I am familiar with child development and psychology and know what it age appropriate behavior but that doesn’t make things any easier. When my children exhibit this behavior, I can’t help but wonder who replaced my calm, even tempered little boys with screaming banshees? New parents don’t always believe you when you tell them that sometimes you are more than happy to be away from your baby for hours, even if it is just to run errands. You can still love your children fiercely while at the same time banishing them to their rooms for the rest of the day. I feel it is important to stand my ground on the big stuff, and I do, but it can be so exhausting. I know my job as a parent is to raise confident, self-sufficient, caring and kind adults and sometimes that means getting a little tough and facing embarrassment. Sure it would be easy to give in when the whining starts but I don’t think that would teach them anything other than Mom is a pushover. So, as embarrassing as it may be, I’ll hand a half full shopping cart off to a store employee and leave the store when the tantrums start because I know I am teaching my child that I mean what I say and tantrums won’t get you what you want. Like Scarlett I know that tomorrow will be another day and things will get better. Sometimes that thought is the only thing that brings a smile to my face when the parenting day gets a little too rough.