“I dreaded our mornings. ‘The kids won’t listen in the morning,’ I told my husband.
They left an emotional scar on me every day. Nobody wanted to be rushed, and the cooperation was nil. ‘Please brush your teeth,’ I would say.
I was met with, ‘I’m not going to school!’
‘I am not brushing my teeth.’
I would say everything you are not supposed to say: ‘You will brush your teeth or else.’ ‘You are going to school — and now — and I don’t want to hear another word about it!’ I could hear my mother’s words and tone coming out of my mouth. What was I doing?!
After trying every threat and punishment I could think of, I finally started using the Hand in Hand approach. We started getting up 30 minutes early so we could play. I mean really PLAY! We just did 20 minutes right after breakfast… It worked! Twenty minutes in the morning has given me hours of peace and love.”
This excerpt comes from the book, Listen by Patty Wipfler and Tosha Schore. It’s funny how something like this can make such a big difference. How 20 minutes can change your day.
I wanted to point it out today to say that no matter what, the thing that your children need the most is you. If you start to see them not doing as they are told, or being deficient, or just acting out… think about how you can do something for them.
This is a picture of our sons and I love this one because the bench is so very true.
A child seldom needs a good talking to as a good listening to.
If you find yourself losing your patience, give 20 minutes a try and see how it can change your day.
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