Walking Away...

Sometimes we get so caught up in the pressures of our lives, we forget we can walk away for five minutes. So often when I am embroiled in a situation, I forget I can step back and take a breather. Especially when the situation involves children.  They all want attention, they all want an answer and they want it now. Sometimes we need to delay reaction so we can take time to weigh all the factors involved before making a decision. I often say, "I will consider what you have said and I will let you know!"  With adults you can just take a walk or even go in another room, they don't tend to follow and respect that maybe you need a moment. Children however will follow you where ever you go and try to convince you until you give in.

Taking a break to take a hot bath, laying down for a 20 minute rest seems to not only reduce tension but gives me time to defuse the stress and think about how I am going to deal with the problem at hand.  Thank God for door locks! "Sorry, I can't hear you through the door dear, the water is running..."

My daughter Jordan is bubbly, bright and I enjoy her company. However, when she gets an idea in her head she is like a dog with a bone. She just won't let up and won't let go. I had this experience with my other children but there was always another sibling around to dilute the tension and add perspective to the conversation.  "Mom's not going to let you do that, she never let me...!!!"

Since I had my children over a 21 year span, Jordan has spent the last 5 years being more or less like an only child.  I often wind up saying to her responses like..."I never let Jenny, Chris and Ian dye their hair, why would I let you dye your hair pink? Jordan, you are only 13 years old, far to young to start dyeing your hair.!"

She will question my decisions and once in frustration I told her, "I stand by my decisions, I think the fact that Jenny, Chris and Ian are not drug addicts have their own homes and are not living in the street says I have done something right as a mother."  Of course, her answer to that was, "What makes you think if I dyed my hair pink I would wind up on drugs and living on the street when I got older?"

Yes, that is a "Calgon take me away" moment....