Ok so tonight I took my almost 4 year old and almost 6 year old DDs out got dinner as we often do on a Friday, just a local restaurant. Anyway, they were find until they had finished then they starting mucking up. Running around, running outside, not listening to me and well I guess just being kids.
Anyway I lost it with them both and now feeling like crap about it all. I hate that when they muck up I yell at them and feel like I'm becoming a nag. And I fall into doing that thing where you tell them what they are doing wrong and why it's wrong and how annoyed I am etc, too much info and they just hear me go "blah blah blah" at them.
How do you deal with your kids when this happens? Especially in public. I know they are only kids and don't deserve to be yelled at etc, feeling really bad about it and just want some ideas on how to behave better as a mum. Also fed up with the fact they don't listen to me (my 5 year old has always been very strong willed and independent)!
2 Replies
Can I just say good on you! It is not the end of the world to be yelled at for doing the wrong thing, in fact, that's your job as a parent. Obviously if you are continuously yelling then try to tone it back a bit but don't feel guilty for disciplining your kids. You're their parent, not their best friend.
I agree with the first answer. It's our job to teach our kids what is appropriate amongst other things. If your doing it right your kids won't like everything you do all the time. So if occasionally you need to be firmer to get the message across that's ok. I have what I call my 'mum voice' it's a firm voice that let's my kid know I mean business! It's quite a deep tone and find it is very effective. I also find telling then what they should be doing more effective than telling them what not to do.