Being Better

Today at Walmart, Cael ran away and I had to get on him. I was very patient and kind, but also very stern with him. He apologized, asked me politely if he could go to the bathroom, and then went. The cashier was like holy cow, can you come teach my kid. Then the lady behind me was saying how wonderful I handled him and how respectful and adorable my kids were. It really made me feel really good. Then when I got into the car I got thinking about it. I never got worked up, I did it very calm and quiet (surprised that either woman even heard it) and I was never stressed about it. Quite different than the feeling I have at home when disciplining. Why can't I always remain so calm? I would never act in public the way I do at home. I would not give them 1 or 2 chances and then yell like a little child at them and throw my "authority" around. It really is much more effective to love them into it. Duh, just like the prophets have been telling us all along! After today I hope to make a REALLY good effort to not yell. Carter has started this new MAJOR attitude and he's just killin me I tell ya! I have started just hugging him when I get so mad I want to yell. It's amazing how well it diffuses the situation. That's all I want Chet to do with me is hug me when I get really mad. Then I just melt and everything comes back into perspective. This is the great thing about being a parent. You can always be better the next day than you were the last!!! There's always something you can do better. I hope to be a better mom than I have been. It really is the most important thing I do. Everything else is just time fillers!