The Young Years
Your children are going to go through emotional ups and downs for...well...basically the rest of their lives. You will be their one constant. Make certain you have open communication with them so they will feel comfortable telling you anything. That's the only way you are going to know what's happening in their world.
Most children are warm and welcoming until they reach the age of... around 8 or 9. You taught them for the first years of their lives but now their peers have started making tiny "pin prick holes" into their brains...telling them to do this...and that. Not every child will be raised with your guidance so remember that. It isn't those children's fault...but it is your responsibility to watch over your own. You're going to hear, "he made me do it," and "if I didn't they would make fun of me," and "everybody laughed when I did it," and...on and on. These are their formative years...they're slowly becoming the pre-adults...expressing personalities that will come to the forefront very soon. Do not condone their behavior, but please do not become so upset that they will one - stop telling you anything, or two - stop behaving differently from your norm. You see, when children do things that make their classmates laugh - they're forming personalities that will make them great public speakers. When they follow someone's orders - their learning hierarchy that will bode them well in the work place. Your job is to talk to them, tell them what was right and wrong about the situation, and encourage them. That's really all your job is.
***Please let them wear what the other kids are wearing. Please try your best to buy them the latest gadget, or whatever it is that 'everyone' is into. The absolute worst thing you can do to your child at this age, or any age really, is make them different.***
When you arrive at the pre-teen/early teen years...that's when you might want to consider taking some type of anti-anxiety medication. That angelic baby...that wonderful child you love so much...will probably turn into something you won't recognize. The child who obeyed you a year ago...now wants to argue with you over anything and everything. Saying something as simple as, "it's time for dinner," will receive the reply of, "Why...why do we have to eat at 6:30 every night!" Your statement of, "It's time to wake up and get ready for school," will be met with, "Why...I can get dressed in 5 minutes!!!" What happened to your child? Well, he/she has disappeared for a while. Don't worry...the child you knew and loved will eventually return, some day, but the "why's" will drive you absolutely insane. I highly recommend Zoloft for the pre-teen/early teen years. It helps.
Most children are warm and welcoming until they reach the age of... around 8 or 9. You taught them for the first years of their lives but now their peers have started making tiny "pin prick holes" into their brains...telling them to do this...and that. Not every child will be raised with your guidance so remember that. It isn't those children's fault...but it is your responsibility to watch over your own. You're going to hear, "he made me do it," and "if I didn't they would make fun of me," and "everybody laughed when I did it," and...on and on. These are their formative years...they're slowly becoming the pre-adults...expressing personalities that will come to the forefront very soon. Do not condone their behavior, but please do not become so upset that they will one - stop telling you anything, or two - stop behaving differently from your norm. You see, when children do things that make their classmates laugh - they're forming personalities that will make them great public speakers. When they follow someone's orders - their learning hierarchy that will bode them well in the work place. Your job is to talk to them, tell them what was right and wrong about the situation, and encourage them. That's really all your job is.
***Please let them wear what the other kids are wearing. Please try your best to buy them the latest gadget, or whatever it is that 'everyone' is into. The absolute worst thing you can do to your child at this age, or any age really, is make them different.***
When you arrive at the pre-teen/early teen years...that's when you might want to consider taking some type of anti-anxiety medication. That angelic baby...that wonderful child you love so much...will probably turn into something you won't recognize. The child who obeyed you a year ago...now wants to argue with you over anything and everything. Saying something as simple as, "it's time for dinner," will receive the reply of, "Why...why do we have to eat at 6:30 every night!" Your statement of, "It's time to wake up and get ready for school," will be met with, "Why...I can get dressed in 5 minutes!!!" What happened to your child? Well, he/she has disappeared for a while. Don't worry...the child you knew and loved will eventually return, some day, but the "why's" will drive you absolutely insane. I highly recommend Zoloft for the pre-teen/early teen years. It helps.
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