Sometimes I get tired of my children’s commands. “Get me some water!” or replace water with your child’s most frequent demands. It kind of makes me feel unappreciated. I realize they’re little and don’t understand how what they say affects me (or anyone else), but still, it’s frustrating.
I could choose to ignore their tone and respond like a robot to their whims, but what would that teach them and how would it make me feel?
I think it’s essential that we teach our children respect. To respect others feelings, to respect their bodies, their families, the earth, and their dreams. Oftentimes parents seem to let things go, “they’re little, they don’t understand.”
It’s never to early to teach respect. As a woman, I expect my boys to respect women; starting with me. I demonstrate how healthy relationships should be via my relationship with my husband and my kids. If we never teach them, how will they learn?
I don’t think it’s too much to expect respect from your kids.
The next time your son insists, “get me an apple!” you can ask him to ask the right way and use the magic word. Tell him you would like him to speak nice to you like you speak to him. The correct way to ask starts with the word can and ends with the word please. I’ve been doing this with my kids since they could speak. It works.
Another thing, when they ask me to get something that they could easy get on their own, I nicely remind them that they are perfectly capable of getting that napkin or spoon that they so desire. So go for it and help your dear old mom out a little! They almost always agree and get it on their own.
These lessons not only teach your son respect, but they help build his confidence too as he learns what makes people respond positively. Of course, it also makes the parent feel less taken for granted, which is always a good thing.
