Do-Over Please

I recently had the opportunity to spend some time with my rugrats alone. And although I can recognize that it’s going to be a work in progress, I’m in dire need of a do-over. My goal is to try and keep the emotion out of our interactions. Of course I want to feel emotional about my children, but I don’t want to constantly react emotionally.

Let me set the stage, we were coloring with sidewalk chalk outside and I explained to my almost three year old to “not touch anything” until we washed his hands. I probably would have been better off saying touch everything you possibly can. Upon entrance into the house, he delicately caressed the wall. When that didn’t elicit a response, he ran to the couch and rubbed his hands all over the white couch. I yelled. I’m not sure if I yelled because of the disobedience or my extreme fear over a messy house. Either way, I went to a place that I wasn’t happy about.

I spent the remainder of the evening beating myself up about this interaction. The inner battle was about their needing to be a consequence for bad behavior but that the consequence needs to fit the crime. The minute I lose my temper, I lose control of the situation. How do I maintain my cool, yet appropriately respond to circumstances?

As the days of me being a working mom dwindle, I’m closer to long days full of many circumstances similar to this. I don’t want to become a militaristic mom who requires her children to systematically do exactly as they are told. I don’t want to become a laissez faire mom who has no sense of order either. I thought that the balancing act would be over once I completely dedicated myself to my children and no longer had work on my plate. I’m starting to learn that the balancing act is only just beginning.

Fortunately, July 1st I get the opportunity for my do-over. Hopefully my time alone with my rugrats ends up being more successful than this past Saturday. Hopefully I find a way to create that delicate balance. And hopefully I don’t drive everyone crazy in the process…