Sometimes as a parent, I feel like Dana White as he tries to keep the two UFC fighters from beating each other during the weigh-ins. At the end of the day, you just feel exhausted from trying to keep the peace.
I recently talked about the idea that you can “Choose to be positive…” easier said than done especially when you have kids.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my kids but they can definitely just suck the positive right out of a situation with their fighting and complaining. This got me thinking, “Are my kids really that powerful that they can influence how I feel?”
Unfortunately, there are times that I have allowed my kids’ attitudes to influence how I feel. When this happens I usually react in harsh and negative ways. Hmm…sounds just like what I get upset with them for doing…
And that’s the proverbial moment I smack my head against the wall.
As the parent I have to set the example for how I desire my kids to act. Yes, I will not always do it perfectly but that’s not the point. The point is to show my kids a better way since we are the “mature” ones in the relationship.
My kids’ seemingly negative attitudes and fighting are just their way of trying to express what is going on inside of them. My goal as a parent is to help them express those feelings in a healthy way. And yeah sometimes their feelings will come out in rage so then as the parent I can choose to add to the fire or be the cool water that puts out the flames.