Have you ever caught yourself talking to your children? Have you listened to the tone and sound of your voice? Have you ever watched your face or your body language when you speak to your child?
I was talking to another mother friend the other day after listening to another mother speak to her child in the supermarket. The mother at the market words although not hurtful; she were merely asking her child to get some orange juice and put it in the trolley. Her words were spoken with such venom it made my heartbreak for the child who was running around trying to please his mother. It wasn’t just her tone, it was her expression and body language. I listened and whilst that wasn’t me at that moment that was me many times over. Trying not to judge her it stopped me in my tracks.
My mother friend and I both admitted as we sat and watched our children in the pool doing their swimming lessons that how we sometimes interacted with our children now on reflection embarrassed us both.We admitted that our children are the only ones that really know us. I mean really know who we are. They know our tempers, know our strength and weaknesses. They know when we are winding up for an explosion.
Now if I’m honest and that’s what I am about I don’t think I have ever spoken to my husband or a friend the way I speak to my children sometimes and the most embarrassing part I would never stand for how I sometimes speak to my children. Never ever. So why do allow the double standard and speak to them that way?
Why?
The way I speak to the them is just the half of it. Communication is not just about words or the way I speak to them its my body language how scary I must appear sometimes..twice their size and fierce looking. Towering over them instead of getting down to look at them in the eye at their level. Lowering the sound of my voice and thinking about what I have to say.
I have made a lot of excuses for myself I’m tired, I’m frustrated, I have lot to do. I could rattle off the excuses of my massive double standard. Yet as it stands I am after the main influence in their life and I’m raising superheroes. Its unacceptable on my behalf.
It got me thinking and I’m in for a lot of adjusting.
Have you ever caught yourself talking to your children in a way that you would never allow for yourself?
xxD
