Learning from Shenanigans

Kelly is on vacation this week. To preserve family goodwill, she’s not working but out enjoying the sunshine instead!

Please welcome our guest poster today, Vanessa from I Never Grew Up.

“Mama loo-oo-k I made a big mess,” my daughter informs me with a sly grin as I open her door to wake her from her nap.

I was employed as a nanny for seven years before having two daughters of my own so I know all too well that children get pleasure from any reaction, even negative ones. I, however, did not know that they could learn to thrive off them. Her sideways smile, spark in the eye and musical tone she uses to inform me of these shenanigans tells me that she can.

When I let the worst get to me and react in frustration her game is over and the tears start to pour. Then I find myself waking up in the middle of the night, crawling ever so quietly across the room of her floor, sticking my head over the side of her bed, telling her I am so sorry I hurt her feelings and that she is my sunshine.

When I don’t let frustration get the worst of me, don’t allow myself to react, tell her the consequence of her latest misdeed and follow through, things tend to run more smoothly.

Later, when she can’t see me, I do have to laugh at her pride in the destruction that only she can make. Late at night, I still find myself crawling ever so quietly across the room of her floor, sticking my head over the side of her bed and telling her that she is my sunshine.

I was quite the know-it-all before entering motherhood thinking that being a nanny would automatically make me a pro at child rearing. I find my old attitude quite hilarious and now know I had no idea what I was getting into.

My girls are my sunshine and are helping me grow as a woman, which for me is the most challenging and rewarding part of motherhood. I sure love it.

You can find Vanessa figuring out motherhood over at her blog, I Never Grew Up.

5 Responses to Learning from Shenanigans
  1. Stephanie
    February 18, 2009 | 3:12 pm

    I know that middle of the night crawling up to the bed so well!

    Steph

  2. Cynthia
    February 19, 2009 | 12:57 am

    I’m working on that “reacting in frustration” myself! And yes, don’t we all know so much before we have our own kids!

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