Sometime ago I went through the Proverbs and thought through what my day should look like. I have a daily schedule that I try to keep close to when we are at home. With my eye opening experience with Abigail, I need to rethink my schedule and remember how to parent a toddler.
How easy is it to forget? Consider this story - When Mary was three years old, I was lamenting to another mom about how hard it was to do things with her. Mary wanted to get into everything and I was having a hard time getting anything done. She gave me some wise words that I have been so very thankful for. She said something like, "You're a good mom, you know what to do with her. Sit her down and make her behave. Small children will run over you if you let them and it sounds like you have let her run wild." I was shocked. She was right. I had let Mary run wild. Mary didn't have any attention disorder, she had a mom disorder. Her mom needed to remember how to parent a toddler. Within days, she was settled down and I was able to conduct school again.
Granted Abigail is sixteen months old and that is a big difference in maturity than three years old. But it is past time for her to sit for a few minutes in a room alone. (With watchful eyes peeking in, of course.) At this point, she acts like we are punishing her if we make her sit next to her toys for a few minutes without us.
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