Last night I was, in retrospect, overly angry with Zoë. Almost as it was happening I knew I was blowing things out of proportion and yet I couldn't really help myself. It had been a crappy day and she had, in fact, done something to warrant getting in trouble. Even so, I think I over-reacted.
The problem then becomes how do you express to your 5 year old that you realize you over-reacted without completely undermining your own authority? On the one hand, I don't want Zoë to think she can get away with what she had done, but on the other, I don't want her to think I am completely unreasonable or to be afraid of me. (Well, maybe just not too afraid -- a little afraid is good.)
Sigh. This parenting thing is so hard sometimes!
This morning I woke up thinking about the whole thing and still feeling badly. I told her I was sorry that I got so upset, but emphasized that what she did was not O.K. She said O.K., kissed me and then asked for her milk. I guess it couldn't have been too traumatic -- either that or she is used to my particular brand of crazy.
1 comment:
I think she has it all figured out and you will be fine. Kids are smart and we never give them that credit. There instincts are more in tune to life, we have numbed ours down.
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