So I want to start devoting a little bit of time here to talking about parenting woes, because one of my favorite things about blogging is the sense of camaraderie I get from you guys regarding subjects like depression, motherhood, and life problems in general. I'm the kind of person that tends to ignore things and hope they go away, but I'm learning that knowledge is power, and maybe someone who is reading this is going through something similar and has something brilliant to share.. or maybe you just want to say "me too!" What do you say? Let's be miserable together, guys!
Lately Emma has been kind of a punk. Like most things, it's probably a phase, but mon dieu! is it making me crazy. She is having problems listening and following directions. Every time I take her out in public she runs through wherever we are. She will not sit through a meal lately without getting up to dance or pet the cat or play in the bathroom. And she pretty much just ignores us when we tell her to do (or not to do) something.
Having been raised by orderly, organized, military parents, this is just unacceptable behavior to me. My parents would've taken me to the restroom and spanked me if I did these things when I was a kid. I don't spank Emma because I don't believe in hitting, but the last couple of weeks have left me wondering if maybe my parents did something right. I don't mean that spanking is the answer, it's not for me, but what they did do was make me just scared enough of them that I knew better than to act up.
I go back and forth on this, because I don't want Emma to ever be "afraid" of me.. but I also don't want a delinquent child either, and if it takes a couple of severe punishments to get that point across, then sign me up.
This weekend I reached my breaking point, and her severe punishment came in the form of being grounded. She lost the Kindle, and she's not allowed to do anything outside of the house this week, like swimming, movies, playground, etc. Also, if she gets up during meal time for anything other than to use the restroom she's done eating until the next meal.
So I guess where I'm going with this is that I'm conflicted because on one hand I feel like maybe it really is a stage or a phase that she's going through where she wants to be independent, and feels as if she doesn't need to listen to us.. and on the other, I don't want her forming any lasting habits such as poor listening skills or the inability to take orders.
Anyone? And am I the only one who feels like punishing your child is more like punishing yourself, because you have to listen to the whining that ensues when you enforce the punishment?!