Sometimes I catch myself being particularly snappy and on a very short parenting fuse. Tonight was one such occasion. It had been a long day. I was tired and I was cross with the Mint after she sat on my sun hat squashing it beyond all recognition. She then proceeded to tip out a bag of beads I had just tidied up. I started to shout at her and then caught a glimpse of myself through her eyes. She crumpled and scrambled to try and clean up. I realised she hadn't been intentionally naughty. Sometimes it's hard to be good when you're only two. So I took a deep breath, regrouped and decided I needed to take a different tack. I closed my eyes and mustered all my inner calm to say, 'thank you Mint, you are doing such a good job helping to tidy up.' I was more than rewarded for my efforts when she replied in a small voice, 'Thanks for letting me help… I just love you guys'. I'm really going to try harder to cut the kid a break… at least until she sits on another hat.
I took these pictures during our walk this afternoon. We went to visit some highland cattle that live in a paddock near our house. Unfortunately the cattle weren't up for having their photos taken. It was hot and muggy and they were all sheltering under a tree on the opposite side of the paddock. Minty thought they had their 'angry faces' on. She was probably right.
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You are definitely not the only one who finds yourself snappy and on a short parenting fuse. Sometimes it's just hard not having a whole community of carers and big kids around to relieve the one-on-one pressure!
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