Angry Anger

Where do you sit on the whole 'expresing emotions' spectrum?

Should toddlers be encouraged to express their feelings and frustrations to
enhance their individuality and honesty?

Should toddlers be encouraged to show restraint in regard to negative
emotions to suppress these undesirable urges?

Which path is a stepping stone to future socially acceptable behaviour?

For me?
My toddlers were welcome to be as grumpy as they liked.
Sitting on their bed.

A happy face and a cheerful spirit were welcome in all other parts of the house.
Worked amazingly well.

Yucky Yelling

Have you ever had anyone really, really yell at you?

How did you feel? I just want to run away and hide.

One of the things that most saddens my heart is seeing toddlers being yelled at.
When I witness this, often in the supermarket, I long to take mum and toddler home
and love them both for a week. Both are so unhappy in that moment.

To show and model a way that trains with gentleness,
patience,
grace and love.

To help mums enjoy their children, as well as to love them.

Unique Uniqueness

My child is different.

Of course!

Each child is unique.

Hence the method, timeframe and challenges will be individual.

The goal is the same.

All children need self-control.

Then they can be taught cheerfulness, helpfulness, obedience, diligence, contentment . . . . . . . . . .

Joyful Joy

Have you noticed that if you are grumpy,
everyone is grumpy?

Seems a little unfair sometimes,
but mum does seem to set the tone for the family.

Try having a happy song to start each day.
A special wake up ritual of hugs or tickles.
Cheerful words to head the day in the right direction.

Deliberately choose a happy, contented,
joyful outlook throughout your day.
Watch your little ones follow your lead.

The Valley of Vision

Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision,
Where I live in the depths but see the heights.

Let me learn that the valley is the place of vision.

Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from the deepest wells,
And the deeper the wells, the brighter the stars shine.

Let me find Thy in my darkness, Thy life in my death,
Thy joy in my sorrow, Thy grace in my sin,
Thy riches in my poverty, Thy glory in my valley.

Only Once

I have had the joy recently of catching up with a couple of people from different areas of my life 20 years ago. It is so lovely to revive sweet memories and share stories of our life journeys.

It has also made me reflect on the fact that we only get one chance to live
this day,
this week ,
this year.

I loved the toddler years with my children. I loved being with them each day and teaching and guiding their precious little hearts. They are only toddlers once.

Enjoy each moment and make wise choices to maximise this special "only-once" stage.

Zip and Zap

Zip and Zap. Okay, yes, I was stuggling to come up with some words starting with Z!!

However these words can relate to speed.

Do you hear yourself saying "Hurry Up" to your toddler as you are trying to get out of the door?
What does "hurry Up" mean to your toddler? Probably not a great deal. They are concrete thinkers at this age. They need to SEE, FEEL or DO to understand.

Practice packing up quickly (at a time when you are NOT rushing out the door). We would ask our toddler to press his speed button, on his tummy, and then pack up his toys fast. We would do this with him for the first few weeks to show exactly what 'fast' looked like, It was noisy and fun and quick.

Then when we were in a hurry, we could press our speed buttons and zip and zap out the door!!