Madeline loving the leavesThe other day I had my first real brush with discipline. Now, I fully understand that 10 month olds are too young to truly be disciplined...at this age, I could never expect my girls to know that what they are doing is bad or think they were just out to get me! Sweet little things. Anyway, Savannah was headed for the big green (fake) plant that sits on the fireplace. The girls are simply intrigued with green leaves! Knowing that she truly doesn't know that it is not a toy, I just firmly (but kindly) said "Savannah, No." She was sitting there on her knees, about to grab the plant, when she stopped, turned her head and looked back at me. I looked at her again and said, kindly but firmly, "Savannah, No." At that moment, my sweet little baby girl turned around, sat down with her back to the plant, and suddenly her lower lip just began to quiver! She stuck that lower lip out and just started the most pitiful cry! I had hurt her feelings!! It tore me up into a million pieces!!!! I only wanted her to know that the plant was off limits, I didn't want to break that sweet little girl's heart!! But, she listened and stopped playing with the plant even though it broke my baby's heart!!
Maybe my sweet Savannah is going to be my little softy, but what I know is that parenthood is already a difficult ride. I love my girls so very much, and I want them to become well behaved, happy children. And I am already understanding that with that comes discipline. With that comes the responsibility of telling them "No." when they need to be told no. Teaching them the difference between right and wrong, so that when they venture out into the world outside of our cozy home, they will know how to behave and will listen when they start heading somewhere they shouldn't. How will they know it's wrong if we as their parents don't teach them that? It may break their heart, it may cause them tears, but I'm understanding more and more that this is just a part of parenthood. And I'm also reaching a new understanding of the cliche "This hurts me more than it hurts you", because girls, when I have to say no and it breaks your little hearts in two, it truly does hurt me waaaaaay more than it hurts you.
Maybe my sweet Savannah is going to be my little softy, but what I know is that parenthood is already a difficult ride. I love my girls so very much, and I want them to become well behaved, happy children. And I am already understanding that with that comes discipline. With that comes the responsibility of telling them "No." when they need to be told no. Teaching them the difference between right and wrong, so that when they venture out into the world outside of our cozy home, they will know how to behave and will listen when they start heading somewhere they shouldn't. How will they know it's wrong if we as their parents don't teach them that? It may break their heart, it may cause them tears, but I'm understanding more and more that this is just a part of parenthood. And I'm also reaching a new understanding of the cliche "This hurts me more than it hurts you", because girls, when I have to say no and it breaks your little hearts in two, it truly does hurt me waaaaaay more than it hurts you.
2 comments:
Bless her little precious heart!!!!!!
You made my Savannah cry?! Well, some of those old plants can make her sick as well. Good girl, Savannah!
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