My precious little boy has been acting...not so precious.For some odd reason he is under the impression that he is the boss, in charge and in his late twenties. Sometimes it's kind of cute, like when he tells me that he thinks it's about time he gets a job, or when he talks about getting married and getting his own house. As much as I don't want to think about those days that are coming all too soon, our job as parents is to prepare our children to leave. Then there are the not so cute - pretty ugly if you ask me - things that he does. For instance, he has no problem voicing, in many words, his displeasure with anyone's decisions. He argues about anything and everything, has to have the last word and rarely gives up until he's in time out for the 2nd or 3rd time. It's scary really, especially for me. Mainly because I remember being the EXACT same way when I was his age. Actually it only really started to change a year or so ago (if you ask some they'll tell you it never changed). It's a huge reality check when you feel as though you are arguing with yourself in the body of a 4 year old boy. Makes me wish I would have set a better example. Well, we have our work cut out for us, to say the least.
The thing is, he can be the sweetest thing too. He loves to give big hugs and kisses, he loves to cuddle with his mommy and talk to his baby brother in my belly (he sings to him sometimes). He says he wants to be like his daddy and he talks about Jesus. Those are the things that make me melt. Those are the times that I look at him and can't imagine ever being angry with him. I know he is a normal, active (very active) little boy. I just can't stand the fact that he has been labled a problem child at school because he hits and spits and disrespects his teachers. All of these behaviors are completely unacceptable, but that isn't who he is.
So on my way to changing his bad behavior, I am realizing more and more that I have to change my behavior. I have raised him myself up until 4 months ago when I got married. He doesn't understand the chain of command: God-Daddy-Mommy-Mason. It hurts that I have almost set him up for failure, but he's only 4 and it's not too late. Better now than when he's a teenager..or worse yet, when he's married. So my husband and I are on a mission now, to model a godly respect and love for each other, in hopes that over time he will loosen his grip on the control he thinks he has and just be a little boy.
The thing is, he can be the sweetest thing too. He loves to give big hugs and kisses, he loves to cuddle with his mommy and talk to his baby brother in my belly (he sings to him sometimes). He says he wants to be like his daddy and he talks about Jesus. Those are the things that make me melt. Those are the times that I look at him and can't imagine ever being angry with him. I know he is a normal, active (very active) little boy. I just can't stand the fact that he has been labled a problem child at school because he hits and spits and disrespects his teachers. All of these behaviors are completely unacceptable, but that isn't who he is.
So on my way to changing his bad behavior, I am realizing more and more that I have to change my behavior. I have raised him myself up until 4 months ago when I got married. He doesn't understand the chain of command: God-Daddy-Mommy-Mason. It hurts that I have almost set him up for failure, but he's only 4 and it's not too late. Better now than when he's a teenager..or worse yet, when he's married. So my husband and I are on a mission now, to model a godly respect and love for each other, in hopes that over time he will loosen his grip on the control he thinks he has and just be a little boy.
We're having the same battle with our daughter. There are five children in our family and they've all been "challenging" as they say. But there are distinct signs of hope. She has chosen some Christian friends, and goes to church without our pressuring her at all. Trust in God. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3)
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