Consistency and Unconditional Love...

Discipline...the dreaded discipline.  Don't we all wish that we could just flit through life with our kids always having fun never having to correct or redirect them?  What a dream!  Having kids means having a huge responsibility.  Sure we have to feed them, dress them, and keep them safe, but to me the biggest responsibility is making these two little people into responsible, respectful, productive, loving, happy big people.  And to get there, we have to start here with two independence seeking and sometimes tantruming toddlers.

Some days we make it with no issues at all.  Some days we spend our entire day with one or both kids crying, in and out of the time-out spot, and apologizing to each other or Mommy.  Exhausting.  We had one of those days recently and I called in for reinforcements...my parents!  I thank God every day for the clarity John and I both had when we looked at each other and said, "Let's move back home."  Our parents are so incredibly supportive and will basically drop almost anything to spend time with their grandchildren or come help their desperate Mother.  This is priceless on a day when you feel like you might lose your mind because it seems like Groundhog Day.  Didn't we talk about not hitting your brother yesterday?  Didn't we talk about not throwing balls in the house yesterday?  Didn't we discuss not throwing your plate yesterday?  I sigh just typing it.

What I do know is that, as exhausting as it may feel, each and every time that I teach George and Clara right from wrong or even just proper manners, I know I am shaping their future.  There is nothing more important then that.  So if you come to my house and you hear me chanting to myself, "Consistency and unconditional love," I haven't lost my mind.  I am just reminding myself of what I believe are two very important parts of discipline.  I am sure that one day I will look back on the hard days and laugh or maybe even cry.  What I hope is that I will look back with a sense of pride and accomplishment because it all paid off in the long run.  And I am sure it will. :)