Small Victories

Life has been crazy lately. Between work, children, battling myself, and everyday stuff, I have felt overwhelmed and ready to throw in the towel. Through a series of unfortunate events, Steve and I have come to realize that how we had been dealing with discipline would no longer work. The girls are searching for their boundaries, and working regularly on pushing them out farther than we are comfortable with. After a long week, and many hours wondering what I am doing wrong, I have come to a few conclusions. They are not earth shattering, and really they were things I knew, but didn't know. Does that make any sense?

So this morning after gaining these bits of wisdom, my ability to stick to the plan of action was pu to the test right off the bat. One of my children had gotten out of bed last night, snuck into our room, taken something that didn't belong to her and slept with it under her pillow. I discovered it as she was making her bed and happened to lift up her pillow while I was standing in her room chatting. Rewinding a bit, I had just promised this same child the night before that if she would always tell me the truth I would try to not over react and get angry about what she was confessing to. So here was the moment of truth. I knew my reaction would be key. I asked where she got it, she told me, I said thank you, and put it away. Then after the bed was made she had a time out. Head down at the kitchen table. After breakfast she wanted her hair done, but we had no time left, and I had to tell her that because she had time out, the result was no time for hair. The victory for me, was not the lesson that I hope she learned. It was that as I told her that I couldn't do her hair I really felt bad and wished that I could. Please don't judge, but even a week ago, I would have probably felt she deserved whatever she got for sneaking and taking when she knows not to. I am grateful for the shift. Hopefully this is indicative of more good things to come.

Happy New Year!

I figured I ought to start out strong and actually post something early this year. I know it is over said, but 2011 went by way too fast, and ironically very slow at times as well. We talked about some goals with the girls tonight. It's a new year, that's what you do right??? This time of year is refreshing and stressful all at the same time. I find myself swinging wildly from anticipation of what the year will hold and all the great things that will come about, and terrific amounts of doubt that I will be able to get to even a small portion of the things that I would like to. I make my goals, every year, and then December 31 rolls around and a lot of said goals are still not accomplished! I know it's not the end of the world, just a year, but man I sometimes wonder what I did all year!! So I have a question for my last 3 readers who still follow me. What sort of feelings are brought out for you at the beginning of a year???