A few years ago while my daughter was mowing the lawn,
she stopped to cool off and asked (then) three year-old Laney to bring her a bottle of
cold water or Gatorade®
out of the refrigerator so she wouldn’t have to track grass clippings through
the house.
Laney
was happy to oblige…on one condition: As she went inside to get her momma a
drink, she said, “You get what you get and no throwin’ a fit.”
Hhhmmmm….wonder
where she heard that?
After
Elizabeth quit laughing she assured Laney that no fit would be thrown and that
whatever she brought her to drink would be fine and appreciated.
Parents,
you need to make a point of showing and telling your children what Laney told
Elizabeth: You get what you get and no
throwin’ a fit.
*When
your child cries foul over not getting first chair in band because the teacher
likes someone better, don’t coddle and agree with them. They are still in the
band and playing music.
*When
your child isn’t voted Stuco President, don’t let them wallow in their
self-pity saying the only reason the winner was chosen was because they’re rich
or their dad is on the school board, or….
*When
your child is pouting because they didn’t get as much time on the field as they
wanted, don’t side with them and speak negatively or disrespectfully about the
coach.
*When
your child is upset over not getting in the same class or on the same team as
their best friend, don’t let them whine and complain about it. They can still
be friends…and make new ones, too.
In
other words, you need to teach your children to be content with their
circumstances and to make the best of them instead of whining, throwing a fit, and
complaining that things are good enough or unfair.
You
need to teach your child that being first, winning, being popular, and making
straight A’s isn’t a requirement for being awesome and amazing. They also need
to know that when they aren’t first, when they don’t win, or when things don’t
go their way, jealousy, throwing a fit, and pouting aren’t acceptable
behaviors.
Life
isn’t fair and things aren’t always going to go their way, but when it isn’t
and they don’t, whining, complaining, and throwing a fit doesn’t help. As
parents, you need to instill in your children the basic truth that says: YOUR
BEST ISN’T ALWAYS GOING TO BE THE BEST,
BUT IF YOU DO YOUR BEST, IT’S ALL GOOD.
Love,
Momma D
Copyright 2016 Darla Noble. No part of this can be used or copied without permission from the author.
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