Discipline is hard

Proverbs 13:24 (The Message)

A refusal to correct is a refusal to love;
love your children by disciplining them.

So this week my daughter had a very hard week emotionally. Well, as most moms know, your daughter will take out their emotions on you in some way. It's a mother daughter thing. Well, her emotions came out in a very hurtful and sad way this week. "It was ALL my fault" somehow.

Well, over the following days it came out that day (the day it all came to a explosive head) she had a great day at school, but when she came home, I ruined her day. How? By making her do her homework and not allowing her to be mean to her brother. In her mind she should have been able to do whatever she wanted without me interfering.

Well, obviously that wasn't all that was on her mind, but her emotions had to go somewhere and I was the safest person she could think of to thrash.

Now, moms, I love my little girl like you can not believe. So, you can imagine how hurt I was that I was the brunt of her anger and emotions. However, I'm the grown up. Not her. So, I took the loving mother route instead of engaging in the hurtfulness. I loved her and talked to her the next day and we figured out together that the verse I started with was love and not trying to make her day horrible.

I know parents who have disciplined their children have all been there. So, why am I sharing? Well, I guess I needed to say something or I would keep it in and worry about it. Also, to encourage parents. There is no discipline method that makes your child "feel good" or that they will even "like" what you are doing. They will get upset no matter how calmly or effectively you discipline them. Keep working at it and find the way your child needs your love through discipline. You may cry...you may hate doing it....you may even want to stop. Don't. Your child is truly loved when you care enough to mold their behavior and values. KEEP IT UP!!!! You're doing great!