Honey, I Wrecked the Kids!

I was quite surprised when, during one of my son's check-ups, my usually stoic male pediatrician shared this piece of personal information. He came earlier than usual to the clinic because he couldn't stand the shouting at home. My innate counselling instincts led me to ask him why as well as to jokingly ask, do you have teenagers at home? Yes, he said, there are two. Oh, i said and then didn't pry anymore. I suppose the 'oh' had a whole world of meaning to his dilemma.

You don't have to wait till your kids turn into teenagers before you have a similar scenario at home. My kids are at 7.9 and 2.10 yrs and already, the home has turned into a battlefield of some sort.

I exhasperatingly tell my husband that I don't like having to resort to shouting and all these things that you know have been used on you by your parents in the old days that seem to have worked but are 'psychologically' unacceptable, just to get my message across especially to my almost 8 year old. This is a terrain totally unknown to me except for memories of course of how I was quote unquote, disciplined by my parents. Can't children with a wave of a hand, just magically be sweet, well-mannered, compassionate, understanding and gracious?

So on my wits' end I am currently reading this book and will post some updates on any tips I can get from it. Wish me luck!