I was talking with Fran yesterday. She is a lovely person who was telling me about her grown children. Clearly proud of her kids, I announced that they must have been good kids and have grown into adulthood with a loving sense of family and community. Fran agreed wholeheartedly and said that her husband always said: "We worked out a**es off to get such good kids!"
I couldn't have agreed more and it got me thinking.
Our children are born and they are the apple of our eyes-cute, cuddly, their poop doesn't smell too awful, but then, somewhere around the age of 2 they learn the word "no", the don't listen as well to our warnings about outlets, and poop becomes art. This is when the discipline begins and our firm, but loving adherence to it helps kids to blossom while at the same time making a family successful at enjoying the lives given to us.
Yes, it is work and there are many times when I am baffled at the amount of energy my children have. Ah, to have the energy of a 3 year old with the brain of a 35 year old-can you imagine?
The only way I have found to keep up with my kids is to firmly and lovingly work on the self discipline of self care. Not so easy when considering the abrupt waking in eye glue hours of the morning and the flat out run for the next 12 hours that occurs. Nonetheless self care is essential and something that every parent needs in order to keep up with their kids.
Take the kids on a walk. Get everybody involved in healthy eating. Give them a scheduled "rest time" everyday where Mom or Dad gets some downtime to read or pray or sleep (my favorite).
Think of self care as good parenting. And remember the old do-as-I-say thing only works in church-they learn self care from how you do it, not how you say to do it! If you're not in the habit, start today.
**Coming soon...listen to the docs of AAC Family Wellness Centers every Saturday morning at 9:30am on WDCD 1540am. A little information and a whole lot of inspiration for staying on the path of health and wellness!
I couldn't have agreed more and it got me thinking.
Our children are born and they are the apple of our eyes-cute, cuddly, their poop doesn't smell too awful, but then, somewhere around the age of 2 they learn the word "no", the don't listen as well to our warnings about outlets, and poop becomes art. This is when the discipline begins and our firm, but loving adherence to it helps kids to blossom while at the same time making a family successful at enjoying the lives given to us.
Yes, it is work and there are many times when I am baffled at the amount of energy my children have. Ah, to have the energy of a 3 year old with the brain of a 35 year old-can you imagine?
The only way I have found to keep up with my kids is to firmly and lovingly work on the self discipline of self care. Not so easy when considering the abrupt waking in eye glue hours of the morning and the flat out run for the next 12 hours that occurs. Nonetheless self care is essential and something that every parent needs in order to keep up with their kids.
Take the kids on a walk. Get everybody involved in healthy eating. Give them a scheduled "rest time" everyday where Mom or Dad gets some downtime to read or pray or sleep (my favorite).
Think of self care as good parenting. And remember the old do-as-I-say thing only works in church-they learn self care from how you do it, not how you say to do it! If you're not in the habit, start today.
**Coming soon...listen to the docs of AAC Family Wellness Centers every Saturday morning at 9:30am on WDCD 1540am. A little information and a whole lot of inspiration for staying on the path of health and wellness!
Dr. Sarah Westcott
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