People often comment on how patient I am with my kids. The truth
is I do have a lot of patience. Perhaps some people (my dear husband) might even
argue that I’m overly patient with my kids and they could benefit from a bit
more vigilance/structure; they are probably right 😊. What I am sure of is that we are attempting
to raise 4 very different, independent kiddos that each have unique talents,
gifts, and personalities. Parenting has proven to have a steep learning curve and so, for me,
patience has proven one of my favorite tools to use when faced with the
daily onslaught of parenting adventures. I typically choose patience over yelling, arguing, and power struggles; I pick my battles. I choose to NOT die on the hill battling matching socks, bows in hair, or perfectly made beds.
However, my patience does wear thin in certain areas. I don't know about your little angels, but my kids bicker; they
might be pros at it. I always keep an eye out for helpful tricks
and strategies to not only STOP the bickering but help them grow as human beings. I stumbled upon the
following article: '5 Steps To Help Kids Resolve Conflict.' It was originally published by the author of the Sunshine Parenting blog and
written in response to her observations being a camp director for 30 years. I
think the list easily transitions outside the camp setting and perhaps even more
broadly to any conflict situation. Hopefully you find it as helpful as our
house has. I’ve listed the steps below but you’ll have to pop over to the
article to get the full descriptions- I think it’s well worth your time!
1.
Calm Down
2.
State & Understand the Problem
3.
Apologize Well
4.
Promote Solution Finding
5.
Follow Up
The tips in the article above are just another tool that help EQUIP our family as
we navigate daily conflict. I have also been to known to parrot what my own Mother said- reminding my kids that despite the bickering now, they will one day enjoy each other as adult friends; I do believe (hope) this is true. Maybe someday soon I’ll find the perfect balance of patience
and vigilance as a parent but perhaps I never will. For today I choose to go cheer on 1 kiddo at soccer, listen to the others bicker, and remember the wise words from Kung Fu Panda
3, “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift… that is why
they call it the present.”
If you are interested
in how EQUIP Counseling can help
support you and your
family, pop over to EQUIPCounseling.com
