Skip to main content

I-Heart Parent

 
 
              Every Monday morning, I look back on a weekend well spent with my kids and I usually reflect with a picture of my Em & Ems (Emmanuel and Emeli) as I call them on my facebook. I miss them so much while I'm at work, that like most working parents, I feel guilty and can't wait to be with them again. That is until about 230pm when I walk into my parent's house to pick them up, that their fighting and chaos remind me that they look cuter in the picture. A picture, where all I see is their smiles and cute faces.
      
              My daughter is not even 3 yet, and she is already set on telling me no for the simplest commands. Its never that she doesn't want to do what I'm instructing her to; It seems instead she just prefers to do things her way or feel she is control. I never thought kids so small and innocent could be so manipulative, with their little smirks and sassy attitude. However I'm learning that kids, or us as humans in general , we are prone and determined to do our will. But I've also learned, that despite popular belief that kids will be kids and they need some freedom, we as parents are responsible for teaching them there are consequences for every wrong choice they make while they are in our care to correct their choices before they are in the real world, where wrong choices can equal greater consequences that are out of our hands.
 
               The biggest thing I am learning is that disciplining your child is as a great part of loving them as is providing for them and spending time with them. And consistency is key. I am teaching them about authority, which in our house is us  as parents, and obedience which will always be a part of their life. I think if I lay a good foundation of them understanding respect for authority and obedience they will have no problem in the real world respecting laws, rules at work, or keeping their civic duties. To everything there is an order. And I'm not an angry, overly strict parent. I allow my kids choices when it comes to what they wear, what they want me to cook for dinner or even what we will do as a family on the weekend. However, there are things that are non-negotiable such as meal times, bed time, fighting amongst them, and their tone and certain words used to talk to us or others.
 

 


 
 
                    We know that no matter what we do, there is no perfect formula to raising perfect kids, but as a parent it is our responsibility to set standards, to guide them, and to ensure they know the difference between right and wrong. Be involved! The most impacting thing that has been said to me as a parent is that we only get 18 summers with our kids to make sure they are capable adults to make their decisions and step out into the real world.
 
                   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

16 and Married!

       As most of you may already know, I wasn't 16 and pregnant, like the popular MTV show. Instead I was 16 and married. Yes married before I graduated, or officially got my driving license. Married before I got an actual job and before I knew what marriage was really going to require.     I met my husband my freshman year in high school and for many months only looked at him as a friend to share my "boy" drama with. But after many lunches, conversations, hanging out, inviting him to my church, dancing at my quince, and skipping many electives together, I was in love with my homeboy, my friend. And all of a sudden, all the guys that I was entertaining as potential suitors didn't matter anymore. Not after Emerald called my house on a Tuesday night while I was watching American Idol, to confess his love for me. I remember seeing his family name on the caller I.D and almost falling off my bed to get the phone to tell him my sister wasn't home. My

Like ME!

How many likes will this get? Living in the social media age we live in, its often a question we ask before posting anything. A thought, our lunch, a new outfit, or an accomplishment in school or our career. Last week in school, my son was nominated to run for president of his kindergarten class as they learned about president's day. When he came home he told me he wasn't sure if they liked him and would vote for him. Of course, with me, that sparked a life conversation with him. "Not everyone is going to like you Manny, and that's ok!". I could even hear my moms voice in my head (in Spanish of course) telling me the very same thing growing up. I had to reassure him that all he could do was keep being the Emmanuel he is. With all his knowledge, likes, dislikes, habits, and mannerisms that are individual to him; he has to know he doesn't need anybody's approval to be just that. (except his parent's right now, but authority is another topic). I&#

Love Does......

With Memorial day coming up and Emmanuel telling me all about learning about the armed forces and the sacrifices our troops make, I couldn't help but think about what Love does. They say there is no greater love than that which would lay their own life down for another, so for that great sacrifice lets thank all those who are serving and those who have served or lost their life while doing so. Funny thing, is that in the past week I also heard a song about love like no other. About love doing things not for who may see, or what we may get but just because love Does. Love is an action, a commitment, a decision to do and not just say or "feel". Not all of us are called to serve in the military nor will we always have the chance to physically lay our life down for others, but Loving is something we all get to do! Loving in my marriage and as mother, has taught me how sacrificial it ought to be. Even with the man I chose to marry, and the kids that came from my womb a