**sigh**
For the past several weeks I've been heading to our local YMCA every other day for their amazing indoor playground program. Trying to expend some of my kids energy and bonding by playing with them. We've been so cooped up all winter and want to run around and play! I'm hyper by nature, lol, so are my kids. When I'm calm, they are, yk?
Any who, none of us were calm today, right from the start. I should have realized this and skipped going to the Y. But, I thought it would help.
Everything was ok until we were in the locker room trying to get dressed after playing at the indoor playground. No one wanted to go home, but the program ended, so we had no choice. My kids were still HYPER from playing for an hour. In the locker room, they were running around, using their "outdoor" voice, hiding in empty lockers, while my youngest, whose only 18mths, was EVERYWHERE. The other moms, I could tell, were not impressed with me. It really is amazing how so many other mothers are so critical with each other. I'm sure they have bad days, no? Perhaps they could have helped instead of standing there watching me?
Looking back there was lots of things I could have done (like gone into one of the changing stalls to get our boots and jackets on), but at the time I was just trying to hurry to get out of there quick (which probably contributed to the hyperness). But other than trying to hurry, I didn't loose my cool. I didn't yell or snap, I just tried lovingly to get their attention to remind them of their tasks of getting their coats on and their boots. Renee, my youngest, of course, had a tantrum while I was trying to get her jacket on, lol.
I was firm in the car, saying they need to listen to mommy or we won't be able to come back again, but I didn't yell or show I was angry. (And yes, I was angry, not at them, but at the situation and at the mothers who were looking - with their one child - and judging me for not having more "control").
Any who, there's no point to this post...only I needed to "talk" about it yk? I'm just so glad I've embraced gentle discipline. Ever since, I normally feel more calm and loving, just in general even. I think I was waay too strict on my first child when he was younger. I use to try to "control" him instead of understanding him and realizing he is just a child whose learning yk?
For the past several weeks I've been heading to our local YMCA every other day for their amazing indoor playground program. Trying to expend some of my kids energy and bonding by playing with them. We've been so cooped up all winter and want to run around and play! I'm hyper by nature, lol, so are my kids. When I'm calm, they are, yk?
Any who, none of us were calm today, right from the start. I should have realized this and skipped going to the Y. But, I thought it would help.
Everything was ok until we were in the locker room trying to get dressed after playing at the indoor playground. No one wanted to go home, but the program ended, so we had no choice. My kids were still HYPER from playing for an hour. In the locker room, they were running around, using their "outdoor" voice, hiding in empty lockers, while my youngest, whose only 18mths, was EVERYWHERE. The other moms, I could tell, were not impressed with me. It really is amazing how so many other mothers are so critical with each other. I'm sure they have bad days, no? Perhaps they could have helped instead of standing there watching me?
Looking back there was lots of things I could have done (like gone into one of the changing stalls to get our boots and jackets on), but at the time I was just trying to hurry to get out of there quick (which probably contributed to the hyperness). But other than trying to hurry, I didn't loose my cool. I didn't yell or snap, I just tried lovingly to get their attention to remind them of their tasks of getting their coats on and their boots. Renee, my youngest, of course, had a tantrum while I was trying to get her jacket on, lol.
I was firm in the car, saying they need to listen to mommy or we won't be able to come back again, but I didn't yell or show I was angry. (And yes, I was angry, not at them, but at the situation and at the mothers who were looking - with their one child - and judging me for not having more "control").
Any who, there's no point to this post...only I needed to "talk" about it yk? I'm just so glad I've embraced gentle discipline. Ever since, I normally feel more calm and loving, just in general even. I think I was waay too strict on my first child when he was younger. I use to try to "control" him instead of understanding him and realizing he is just a child whose learning yk?
I have so been there. I can't stand the stares either! I make it my goal in life to smile at a flustered mom and tell her "I've soooo been there!" or something like that to let her know I'm not judging and it happens to all of us.
Ha hahaha. Like that old mean really believes you care about his #$%^ opinion! How did you stop yourself from actually laughing right in his face? ROFLOMG
I was so mad! I wanted to be like "WHAT are you starring at" in the first place but I bit my tongue until he actually interjected. I SHOULDN'T care what he thinks though... I think I'm overly sensitive. hehe. 
Yeah, I've recently been at the receiving end of a heck of a lot of brutal judgement. I had to remove my family from this playgroup before it got any worse. 
