I experienced a pretty great parenting moment tonight but to get there, I had to wade through a cup of spilt milk.
When Benjamin gets angry, he tends to either lash out at me or any object nearby. (Yeah, I know...we're working on it.) So tonight, the closest object happened to be his cup of milk at the dinner table. Even before he lifted his arm to strike, I knew what he was going to do. Before I could stop him,however, the cup went flying across the counter and milk went everywhere. I was right in the middle of nursing Brayden, but that didn't keep me from whisking Benjamin to his bedroom, spanking his behind, and ordering him to his bed. I did this all very calmly, although inwardly I was seething. As Ben cried in his room, I finished feeding poor Brayden (an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire) and repeated over and over in my head, he's two-he's two-he's two to the same beat that the milk was dripping off the counter, drip drip-drip drip-drip drip.
I cleared the dishes from the counter, leaving the spilt milk for Benjamin to clean up. I retrieved him from his room and told him that since he made the mess, it was his job to clean it up. He must have sensed my anger because he readily agreed and mopped up his spill without complaint. As I was rinsing out the washcloth, he said to me in the sweetest, most sincere little voice, "Sorry Mom. Sorry for knocking over my milk and making you sad." When I didn't respond right away (my throat was a little choked up) he repeated himself a few more times. And just like that, all my anger melted away and he was back in my good graces. I mean, how could he not be? After I could speak again, I finally replied, "Thank you for apologizing. I forgive you."
Yep, a pretty great moment. Sooooo worth the spilt milk.
When Benjamin gets angry, he tends to either lash out at me or any object nearby. (Yeah, I know...we're working on it.) So tonight, the closest object happened to be his cup of milk at the dinner table. Even before he lifted his arm to strike, I knew what he was going to do. Before I could stop him,however, the cup went flying across the counter and milk went everywhere. I was right in the middle of nursing Brayden, but that didn't keep me from whisking Benjamin to his bedroom, spanking his behind, and ordering him to his bed. I did this all very calmly, although inwardly I was seething. As Ben cried in his room, I finished feeding poor Brayden (an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire) and repeated over and over in my head, he's two-he's two-he's two to the same beat that the milk was dripping off the counter, drip drip-drip drip-drip drip.
I cleared the dishes from the counter, leaving the spilt milk for Benjamin to clean up. I retrieved him from his room and told him that since he made the mess, it was his job to clean it up. He must have sensed my anger because he readily agreed and mopped up his spill without complaint. As I was rinsing out the washcloth, he said to me in the sweetest, most sincere little voice, "Sorry Mom. Sorry for knocking over my milk and making you sad." When I didn't respond right away (my throat was a little choked up) he repeated himself a few more times. And just like that, all my anger melted away and he was back in my good graces. I mean, how could he not be? After I could speak again, I finally replied, "Thank you for apologizing. I forgive you."
Yep, a pretty great moment. Sooooo worth the spilt milk.
I love this! Children have such an amazing gift to aplogize and move on, without holding grudges!
ReplyDeleteI recently had to explain what forgiveness is to Tanner and actually had to apogolize to him the following day, in which he told me, "It's okay mom, I forget you!" Ha, kids!
Your boys are adorable!!
Bekah