I was up at 6:30 on Sunday morning, with the monkeys standing by my side of the bed, talk-whispering one request after another.
“Mom, I need you to put the batteries in my new remote control car!”
“Mom, I need you to get the milk from the top shelf!”
“Mom, I need you to find my church shirt!”
“Mom, I need you to help me open this pack of markers!”
“Mom, I need you to…” do half a million other things as I stumbled down the stairs.
Much of this I was able to remind them that they are perfectly capable of doing for themselves.
As, for the other things, I had one request…
…let me have a little breakfast first.
Some mornings I can get up and get going and it’s no problem.
Some mornings, though, my diabetes reminds me that it is ever present and I really need something to balance out my blood sugar before I can even think coherently.
So, on Sunday morning, I just needed them to have something that we try, try, try to teach our children.
Patience.
And, so I ate my breakfast, but I did so with 3 little bodies hovering, ever near, daring to say things like “Are you done yet? Can you do it now? You could probably do it while you eat!” and Tiny looking at me from the high chair, eyeing up my eggs, thinking, “I should probably eat those, Mama. You look a little busy.”
The entire time I ate my breakfast, I was thinking about an article that my friend from high school, Meredith, posted on Facebook last Monday. It was about why French parents are superior, and while I don’t think we, as parents, need anything else to make us feel like we are doing a bad job, since we are our own worst critics, the article was really thought-provoking for me.
(You can read the article here.)
So, this week is going to be an effort in practicing being a French mere, and hopefully, helping my kids train to be a little more like French enfants.
I’ll let you know how it goes.
Interesting article. I like the notion of teaching our children how to delay their gratification. It all makes sense. I would love to visit a French family and watch their interaction.
Comment by the domestic fringe — February 13, 2012 @ 5:27 pm |
Me too! I’m writing this as my son is asking me for a snack with 5 minutes to go until dinner. I’m definitely into it!
Comment by abozza — February 13, 2012 @ 6:54 pm |
As I think back to those early years, somehow I seemed to get that part pretty right. Didn’t realize it was such a “French” thing but I know it worked. I just used my “teacher” instincts that I was the adult and they were the children. Was challenging at times to be say “No” but thank the good Lord we all happily survived.
Just to let you know though, that children aren’t the only ones having trouble with the notion of “patience” these days.
Comment by Carla — February 13, 2012 @ 8:02 pm |
…”while I don’t think we, as parents, need anything else to make us feel like we are doing a bad job, since we are our own worst critics, the article was really thought-provoking for me.” I agree!!!
While I actually liked the article for the concepts it was trying to encourage, I did worry about how some might think: “Well, pshaw! Snooty French!” instead of seeing that in many many other cultures throughout Europe and the rest of the world, kids are taught to play by themselves sometimes, and to wait for gratification. Patience is one of the hardest things to teach them, so we may as well start young.
Comment by thismummaslife — February 16, 2012 @ 10:29 am |
I agree, and since reading it, I’ve been noticing ways that I provide instant gratification for my kids when there would be no harm in having them wait. Real Man and I are both working on it! 🙂
Comment by abozza — February 16, 2012 @ 10:44 am |
Same here! It is something my husband and I actually set out to do in the beginning, but e often have to remind each other to keep at it when we want to give in right away. It is an ESPECIALLY hard thing to practice around grandparents! Maybe it is generational, or maybe they are reliving the joy of parenting and don;t want to experience the downsides, but gosh they are indulgent, haha. I have to relax and let it happen a little bit around them, only stepping in when it begins to get ridiculous. (“Mom, he really does not need a third cookie!”) I mean, that’s what grandparents are for right?
Comment by thismummaslife — February 16, 2012 @ 1:22 pm