Luke is my little buddy. He has always been my responsible, happy boy. Lately, it is like a little monster has entered his body. He is teasing Parker like crazy, hitting, yelling and generally ignoring me everytime I have to get after him. Tonight, it reached a climax and I decided that he must be acting this way for a reason. I decided to take him on a little walk and have a chat. I asked him what was going on and why he was acting this way. The conversation went something like this-
Me: "Luke, how does it make you feel when I have to spend a lot of time helping Parker and Ellie?"
Luke: "It makes me a little grumpy."
Me: "I'm so sorry. What can I do to make you happy?"
Luke: "I don't know."
Me: "O.k., let's think of some things we can do, just you and me for special time every week. When we go home, you can write down your ideas."
Luke: "O.k., but Mom, you'll have to write them down because I don't know my letters yet."
Here is the list-
1- Go to the Red Ball Store (a.k.a Target) with you
2- Go to a movie with you
3- Make cards with you
4- Go to the zoo
What a simple list! What a great reminder this was for me that I really need to make more of an effort to spend time with my kids individually. I'm sure most of you do that already. Any ideas of what really works?
5 comments:
This is a good reminder to me that I need to do this again. Paul and I used to be good about taking the kids out on "dates", Paul would go off with one, and I'd go off with the other. It's been a long time though, things get busy and in the way. It is really important though, and I think it helps cut down the tantrums when you do.
you are a good mom! i need to do this with my teasing, fighting boy too.
It's tricky to find the one-on-one time, but so important huh? Have you ever done Home Depot project day? The 1st Saturday of the month a parent and child can go and build a simple project together. I signed Steven and Zach up for this for some good father/son bonding. Call your local store for the details.
Also, a simple trip to the grocery store with just 1 kid, calling it a date, is extra fun for my kiddos. I let them pick out the cereal and other things. So simple, but they think it's great.
Oh cute Luke! Isn't it a great reminder that it really is the simple things that mean so much to our little ones? I love that he said you would have to write for him because he doesn't know his letters. Oh the preciousness of it all! Please give him a big kiss from his Aunt Amy and cousin Lily!
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