Tips for Interacting with Your Children

Children are so entertaining. They will surprise you everyday with the things they say and do. I often wonder what in the world they were thinking. Whenever I am at my wits end, they will usually do something that completely throws me off. It seems that I have completely forgotten what it is like to be a child. I don't remember ever doing (or thinking of doing) some of the things my kids do without any thought to the consequences. Were things that much different in the 70's? My boys love to pretend they are dogs or cats, which means I find them playing in the dog crate or drinking out of the dog bowl. They don't care to much for dog bones, much to my surprise. They stare blankly at me as I explain to them why they are not to do those things. I wish I could read their minds, but maybe it is good that I can't.

When I tell my boys to clean their room, they almost always tell me it is clean. I go to check it and you can barely see the floor. There is no way in the world that it would be considered clean, but yet they seem to think that it is. What room are they looking at? It certainly can't be theirs. Of course, they do come by it honestly. I was much older and knew better, but I still was crazy to think I could get away with it. Once, I was told to clean my room before I went to my friends house and officially I did what I was told. The room was spotless before I left, but, unfortunately for me, my mom needed something out of my closet, which wasn't anywhere near clean. I was totally busted! I had thrown everything out of place in my room into my closet to be sorted and put away when I had more time. Let's just say my mom wasn't very understanding!

I guess I haven't forgotten all about being a kid, maybe just being a very young one. I remember being a teenager very clearly. There are some days that it seems that I still am that insecure sixteen year old who sometimes did some very stupid things. I hope that I can keep that memory when my kids become teenagers and do some stupid things of their own. Of course, I won't excuse their behavior, but maybe I will be a little more understanding.