By Beth Anne Sanborn of Far From Camelot
I am happy to report that I have mastered parenting children, ages 4 through 12! I have it down pat because there are no such ages or stages. As soon as a child hits age 3, they are quickly transported to age 13!
Discussions in our household are now very entertaining. If Riley chooses to disagree with what he is told to do, he will run down the hall yelling at the top of his lungs as to not hear what we are continuing to say to him. Picture fingers in ears yelling “blah, blah, blah, I can’t hear you”. This always ends with the slamming of his bedroom door!
Most times it is just the blatant disregard of rules. Hands are placed on hips and the word “no” is announced in many different tones and pitches. I am happy he is using his imagination and creativity!
I suppose his parents have embarrassed him one too many times because he now refuses to be seen in public with us. As soon as we begin our walk up the sidewalk to a restaurant, a major tantrum ensues. All the local ice cream shops know us by name now because it sure comes in handy as uses for bribery tactics.
Sometimes a trip to the store can be tricky as he will refuse to leave the house if he cannot drive the van to the store or steer the cart in the store. He keeps the cart pretty straight down the aisles and is learning to drive the van down the back road to our neighborhood. Keeping careful watch on the car keys now!
The sleeping habits of a teenager seem to be the same for a toddler. Lots of it. Which is very strange if you are used to a toddler that has rarely slept since he was born. The sofa in our family room has become the bed of choice whether it be relocation during the wee hours of the night or being asked to “move over” during Perry Mason at noon.
I remember knowing for sure my parents did not see half the things I got away with. Now I know better. My son must think the same way I did as a teen. I see how sneaky he is and quite frankly, I am jealous of his brilliant ideas. One day I will have to tell him all that I let slide just because he was so cute while carrying out his fiendish plans.
About the Author, Beth Anne Sanborn: I am a daughter, wife and stay-at-home mother to a 2 year old little boy. In my 3rd decade, balance and happiness have finally come into my life with a little help from my parents and a lot of help from my faith. I have been writing all my life but new to publishing. My first gig was contributing to a weekly mom’s advice column in a local online paper. I’m finding that blogging and all that the online community entails is where I need to be. Life has changed me but my passions have stayed the same; The South is my conditioning, history is what keeps my attention and Spring Training is what gets me through the winter. Visit her blog Far From Camelot
Photo of Boy with Mustache by lovelihood, found on Flickr
