Discipline

Discipline is something I struggle with but also feel I'm really good at.

I believe that parenting is the single most important job I will ever have in my life. Yes, I do put that kind of pressure on myself. Our children are a gift, a blessing, truly precious. I know I'm going to screw them up... but I want to screw them up as little as possible.

I like to read books. Parenting books. I don't follow any one particular method or book. I've read many and agree with some and disagree with others. I think you have to find what suits your style, your child's needs, and fits in with the overall feel of your home and your family.

The books I always recommend are The Discipline Book by Dr Sears, The Happiest Baby on the Block and The Happiest Toddler on the Block by Dr Harvey Karp, The No-Cry Discipline Solution by Elizabeth Pantley, and most any of the books written by Thomas Haller and Chick Moorman.

Haller and Moorman have started a movement called Uncommon Parenting.

There are lots of "types" parenting... mainstream, classic, attachment, gentle, purposeful, etc.

I don't think you need a label for your parenting style. But again... this is the most important job I will ever have in my life. The way I raise my children, the way I treat my children, the things I expose them to, the type of home they are raised in... has major impact on who they become.

So I read and learn and seek ideas and input. I try to be as involved as I can in parenting.

And I struggle.

Lately, it seems I struggle a lot. I feel like I don't have any patience when I come home in the evenings. Trying to get dinner ready, calm my crabby, hungry children, give attention to my husband, seeing the piled up dishes in the sink, the piles of laundry that need to be put away, the toys strewn around the living room... it quickly becomes too much. I sometimes feel like I just want to shut down. If I had my druthers, we wouldn't need food or a nice yard or a clean house and I could just come home and play and read and sing. Or we could afford to pay someone to come and handle all the responsibilities for us. But that would also go against the way I intend to raise my kids- personal responsibility and all that.

I've been too easily overwhelmed lately. Too quick to snap. Too quick to lessen my children because I'm the one having a problem.

And when I feel this way... it's often the ideal time to turn to my books. Reconnect with my ideals, my purpose.

So I'm cracking open my copy of The Only Three Discipline Strategies You Will Ever Need by Chick Moorman and Thomas Haller. And my copy of The 10 Commitments: Parenting with Purpose (same authors). And even going back and rereading some of the early days from The Love Dare.

I want to feel like myself again. I want to feel plugged in with Jeff, connected to my kids. My home isn't unhappy... but I feel like not taking action now will take us there.

I know that part of it is that my kids are changing, their needs are changing. The energy level is higher, the needs are higher, the demands are higher. I have to adjust to it. I have to meet them where they are rather than expecting them to meet me where I want to be.

I know many of my readers have grown children- and I seek your wisdom and advice. Chime in with your thoughts on those adjustments, those changes, and connectivity.

Many of my readers are parents of young children- and I invite you to share your own struggles and your own ways of reconnecting, getting energized again.

And a giveaway...

I'd like to send someone a copy of The Only Three Discipline Strategies You Will Ever Need. Keep it for yourself, give it to someone else.

The rules...

For the next few days, I'm going to immerse the blog in parenting. I'm going to review and cover my rereads of the 2 Moorman/Haller books. Starting today, every comment you leave that is relevant to the subject matter will count as an entry. If you blog about what I'm doing and share the link here, another entry. No limit on entries- but comments have to be relevant or share links to relevant posts. So spread the word, make suggestions, journey with me. Or don't. I'm gonna do this anyway. I'm just stubborn like that.