Expectations...

Managing expectations has definitely been an ongoing learning process for me- especially when it comes to my children. I don’t know how many “talks” we’ve had or how many “incentive programs” we’ve created (which work for a time) before we’re back to the same old habits. I have learned to simplify and only expect two or three things from each child per day. And, when those things happen, I feel like we’ve been successful. When they don’t, tension starts to build. Here’s a perfect example:

My expectation

My reality

The worst is when we talk about it the night before and they smile and nod their heads in agreement and then in the morning before they leave for school, I ask, "is your room clean?" and they smile and say "yes" and then I walk upstairs after they leave and see that nothing has changed, their rooms are still a disaster. And now we have to have an "honesty" talk. But how can you stay mad when you come back downstairs to this cute little face and realize how quickly they grow up.

What are they going to remember about being in our home? Are they going to always think of me with a scowl on my face, lecturing them. Or, will they know I did my best to teach them and also took plenty of time to love and enjoy them?

I remember when Spencer and Sawyer were little writing in my journal that my biggest challenge with Sawyer was getting him to sit in the highchair at mealtime and changing his diaper while he wildly moved around. Now, it's keeping their rooms clean and practicing the piano. There will always be something. Hopefully, I'll be able to keep the proper perspective through it all. Especially with my "neat freak" tendencies....