Somedays I find parenting to be an emotional roller coaster. A mix of feelings & emotions. Full of highs, lows & shock horror moments. I could feel proud, disappointed, shocked, annoyed, delighted, drained of patience & full of love – all in one day!! Some days are there to test our patience as parents. Sometimes I pass the test & other times I fail miserably.
I had one of those testing days recently over mid-term break. We were home all day & the kids were constantly wanting something or had a question to ask. Like, what are we having for dinner (at 9am). I was drained of patience before lunch.
The oldest came in asking for sweets around 11am. I said no, it was too early in the day & if he ate all his dinner he can have a treat after dinner time. This is what I say every day if they ask for sweets – so it shouldn’t have come as a surprise.
Two minutes later the middle child comes in with the same question. I gave the same answer.
Two minutes after that, the 3yr old comes in with the same question & I gave the same answer but I’m starting feeling a bit annoyed now as I suspect she was put up to it!
This got me thinking about what it is to be a mother at home all day with the kids. What was my job here. I am Mum – keeper of the sweets. For that day my job was to say no to pretty much everything the kids said. They wanted to go to town – no, wanted sweets – no, wanted to go outside while it was pouring rain – no.
So then comes the mom guilt – In all fairness to my children they are so good! Asking for sweets isn’t a naughty thing to do but it’s the days with constant questions & constant wanting that can be so draining. But it shouldn’t be, isn’t that my job as a mother, to do what’s best for the kids even if they don’t like it?
I am mum – keeper of the sweets. Who are you? x
