Being a Kid

I have wondered for quite a while how I ended up with the wild strong willed kids. Even little Everett who was calm and laid back has a fight in him. Certainly I question my parenting skills. Especially when their friends can sit still at Story Time at the Library. I know a couple of moms with children who have the same energetic children.

One day after my kids were climbing on the table while I was trying to have an informal meeting, one of the ladies told a story of a woman who literally went insane because her son was so hard to handle. Her friends kept giving her advice that worked with their kids but didn't make a dent with hers. Finally she agreed to see a therapist who explained to her that the average child has an energy level of 5-7. Her child has an energy level of 9. He gave her some tips on how to manage her son and get her life back. My friend reassured me it was not my parenting but some children have more life in them.

After that discovery I came to the realization that I needed to have more fun with my kids. Since I was pregnant with Everett I have been a freak getting on my kids for any mess they make. It is hard enough to clean the normal day to day stuff I did not need any more messes. Now if they make a mess we all say "That's ok." and they clean it up.

The next experience came after worrying about Mason starting pre-school. Does his teacher know how to relate to boys. Mason after all is 100% boy. Then I was hearing people talk about eliminating Santa Claus. They already stopped celebrating the Easter Bunny. Then there were socials I stopped going to because they never had anything for the kids so why go if I am going to be miserable running around telling them no, don't touch, no, don't do that, sit here, stay here......

I got to thinking about the world. About what I want for my children. I want a fun, exciting home filled with celebrations and traditions. I want my kids to experience a childhood. Life's lessons are not learned in the first four years so why try to cram it down their throats. So tonight I cleaned the loft and my kids rooms for them as a special treat. They were thrilled when they came in their rooms. I want my home a place where they want to be. A place where they can bring their friends. A home of love. I will continue to teach them morals as we go along. They still test me and I set the limits but I also give them choices and I try to teach them don't sweat the small stuff.