Starting With Me

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by dizzyde

It's weird but for me the hardest ages for my daughter were from about 8 to 11 or so. I always say that was the time when I just wanted to lock her in her room and just slip her food under the door! lol

It seemed like every time she opened her mouth she said the absolute wrong thing and everything she did was silly or sneaky. I was afraid to take her out in public or let her go off without me, you never knew what the child would say! My best friend though it was hilarious to get her off and let her start talking. She would call me and just be dying with laughter over something (lie or just silliness) my daughter had said. I would be mortified.

I would have never believed that she would transform in to the adolescent/teenager/adult that she did, and there lies the moral of what I am trying to say to you. NO matter what the age is that your child starts going through their awkward/troubled phase, the only option you have is to continue being the best parent you know how to be.

Continue saying and doing all of the things that you know are right, even if it feels pointless and like it is going NO WHERE. Absolute commitment to be a parent, to be strong and consistent in what you say and expect, no matter how many times you have to repeat the same lesson, is the only way, IMO.

I understand your reaction to the school problems, that was something that was so important to me as a parent. I always told my daughter, if her teacher/youth group leader/insert adult authority figure, told her to do something, unless it was morally wrong or put her in danger, she better do it.

If there was a real issue or problem with what was being instructed, then she could bring it to me later and we would deal with it together. And I made sure that I backed that up with her, there were a few times that I did go to school with her and demand accountability in the situation, but I wanted her to know that she had to respect authority first, and then try to fix the problem second.

Maybe not everyone would agree with that, but I think if a persons first inclination is to challenge authority, they are in for a rocky ride in life, from their relationships, to jobs and on down.

Excellent!!! Good post!!! I see you have been where I have been! LOL!