Parenting: Trying to get a grip on discipline

The time has arrived and we are almost at the "terrible 2's" or "trying 2's". However, you choose to referrer to it the time has come....I wouldn't say that I have dreaded this season of Isaac's life arriving, I just knew that it meant like any other season that it would be time for a change (yet again). Isaac is exploring his new found freedoms of being a toddler in many ways. #1 on that list is testing his boundaries with Eddie and I. I do love when I come to pick him up from his Sunday school class and I hear that he is very obedient and a great listener, yet I don't want to be naive in thinking that that is enough or that it is up to others to teach him. I feel that when it comes to implementing a technique or method of discipline the same rule of being proactive definitely applies. I gave up the ideal that I was going to be a perfect parent with the most perfectly polite and well behaved kiddo on the planet a while ago. Becoming a parent truly humbled me to know that there is no perfect parent other than God, and striving to obtain it will run you very dry!

Disciplining Isaac is not so that we [ I ] can "look good" as parent(s) or because we [ I ] want to not be the parent(s) that are being stared at in the store because of a massive meltdown or tantrum. Regardless of implementing discipline with Isaac I know that the meltdown and tantrums will be there. And "looking good" is fleeting because no matter what other people will be looking and judging. I am not guilt-free here because I too have been on the other side, sitting there watching a meltdown of sorts transpire between a child and parent and just flat out judging them for how they are handling it or the lack of them even doing anything. In being honest...this isn't just pre-kid Shannon judging this is recently. I admit it, I struggle with judging other parents. I try not to and there is no excuse but I do, I watch and still have the thoughts of thinking" "oh I'd never" or "really I can't believe that just happened". When the truth is that discipline is hard! Its hard on the parents and the kids. But, my thoughts are you can't just sit back and do nothing because its hard.

So...I don't travel down that road of perfection but like I mentioned before however, I do want to find a way that we can not only teach Isaac about obedience and respect but also about unconditional love and grace. Some may feel that those things don't belong in the same sentence but I absolutely do. As a follower of Christ I know that it is God's love and grace that I am forgiven by and that there is nothing that I can do that will separate me from that. Yet, that doesn't give me free reign to do whatever I want, God's desire for me is to have my obedience as well. Eddie's and my desire is to model that to Isaac while delving down this road of discipline and obedience. I will admit even writing this out makes it seem much easier than the task that lies ahead. Like all ventures in parenting this I know will be a constant works in progress.

I would love to say that this is the part that I tell you that I have figured it out and I have a wonderful technique that we have implemented in our family and Isaac has taken to with out. The truth is we have a good base of our values and morals and that's all folks! Although I will not diminish our beliefs or morals that we are desiring to instill in Isaac as we help mold his character because it is a good start. I just know that the thought it not enough with out an action plan. We do need explore and learn some more about disciplining children and what will work for our family as a whole. That is one of the reasons why I am super excited to be attending a seminar that our Church is hosting this Saturday (06/28) called Confident Parenting . I am very much looking forward to getting more direction in my parenting as well as partnering with Eddie and being on the same page. If you are local I encourage you to think and pray about attending!

Below are a couple of books that I have set on my to read list for this summer. The first book "1-2-3 Magic" by Thomas Phelan Ph.D. was a recommendation from my sister and I have seen first hand that although it is not meltdown or tantrum proof (I know that doesn't exist) it has had a positive effect on the obedience of her girls. Secondly "Confident Parenting" by Jim Burns which I do not know too much about other than that it is the book that is the basis of the parenting seminar in which we are attending this weekend. This is the very beginning of this works in progress of trying to get a grip on discipline. I know we still have a long journey a head and I will be posting updates good or bad. I like to keep it honest and authentic here.