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Parenting is tricky. You try to give your kids the advice they need. You try to hold back and let them make mistakes. Then you figure out the mistakes may hurt them or cause larger problems, so you jump back in, breaking their trust, making them mad.
I find myself longing for the little kid problems of years past. The skinned knees, broken toys and "She's looking at me funny" whines. Sure, I was an exhausted parent, waiting patiently for the terrible twos, tough threes (etc) to be over.
"I can't wait for my kids to be older!" I would exclaim. "It's got to be easier than this!"
Be careful what you wish for.
Parenting will continue to be tricky. I don't expect this job to get any easier. I hope that I can continue to bounce ideas and vent my frustrations to my friends. (Thanks, Michelle, for today!)
I know that the more I listen calmly (a TOTAL challenge for me) and react first with love and understanding, the girls will confide in me so we can solve the problem together.
Wish me luck!
