MyTime Calendars

I wanted to share this revelation I had today. I've had many of my friends ask me with wonderment how on earth I manage to take all four of my kids (ages 2, 4, 6 and everywhere with me and still have a good time. We go to the grocery store together, the mall, movies, and generally whatever we need to do together and (almost) always have a great time doing it. I was pondering this today and realized that the reason my kids do so well when we're out and about is because I have always taken them with me. From when they were little babies to 2nd and 3rd graders, I have just always had them trek with me. We always have a discussion about where we're going and the type of behavior that is expected of them when we get there. They have nearly always respected where we were and what we were doing and I think the reason is that this is how it's always been.They know the drill and know that we have more fun together when everyone behaves.

Now, bear with me on this comparison, but I have to liken this to my dog. He is 8 years old and is very well behaved. But when he is outside and off the leash, his behavior is horrid! He runs with reckless abandon and no concern for cars, pedestrians or my hollering to him to come back. I am always amazed when I see my sister's dog run out their front door and stay resignedly in the yard without her ever having to encourage or command him. And I realized today that she has always let him run in the yard from when he was a little puppy and just pointed out the boundaries while he was still young enough to be impressionable. Now he knows those boundaries and never tests them. My dog, on the other hand, has been kept on a leash whenever out of our yard and has had free run of the backyard so he never learned about those boundaries and now has no respect for them. I feel that kids are the same…if we teach them boundaries of behavior when they are young, they will understand and respect those boundaries as they grow. They learn whats safe and whats not, whats acceptable and whats not.

So don't leave your kids behind! Involve them in the daily aspects of your life and let them see by your example what behavior is expected where. They are quick studies and will quickly learn the rules. You will all be able to have fun together and they will be better adjusted to societal rules of conduct outside of the home as a result. Don't let them miss out on these great learning opportunities! I won't say that I've never left a full shopping cart of groceries because my baby had a meltdown (it's all part of the learning experience!) but I will say that I went back the next day and had a wonderful experience with my toddler. Keep trying and don't give up! They are learning as they go just as we are and it's always more fun to learn with someone than by ourselves!