This month the mag has two articles I enjoyed. The first was good kid gifts for under $20. Whether taking my siblings to b-day parties or going to a party for one of my friends kids I have come to think I have to break the bank if I want to get something special. The toys they showed were not junk, in fact I liked some of them more than priceier things I have gotten in the past.
The article on being a peaceful parent was also good. Again, as you have probably figured out by now, I am not a parent, and I still find all of this advice very helpful. In my crazy life I need all the help I can get on how to be more peaceful.
This article echoed my feelings that there are times it is impossible to chill or not lose it, but the columnist and pediatrician say not so, it's just that counting to ten is not enough. Moms share their advice--some of my take- aways:
We set the tone--convert chaos into calm and others may be able to do it. Plus it provides a sense of comfort when you appear to have things under control.
Try to reverse roles--how would you want to be treated if you were that child or person. Here's the nuance--I once had a very smart man tell me that I was too tied into the Jude o-Christian framework of do onto others as you would have them do unto you. I said "what's wrong with that". He replied don't be so literal, don't treat people how you want to be treated, treat people how they want to be treated. I know it took me a bit to totally get that. Just think about it
Visualize and internalize the parent you want to be. I forget who said it, maybe one of those proverbs I saw it on a bookmark at Borders some time back. It goes something like, it is never too late to be the person you think you are or want to be or something like that. I remember feeling relieved since I only have brief moments where I am the person I know I can be and want to become.