Brooke Blogs This

First let me start by saying, I understand that ÿelling" isn't the most preferable way to speak to my children, or anyone for that matter.  But, occasionally, I find it necessary.  And I don't plan to apologize. Why do I yell?  Most often, because I've tried the speak clearly, calmly, sternly...and my kids are still talking over me.  Whining. Being loud.  Doing exactly what I am trying to tell them to not do. Sometimes I yell because the situation calls for it, like when my 6 year old is about to touch a hot stove, or my eleven year old is about to ride his bike into the back of my car. Occasionally, I yell because I'm at the end of my rope. And I NEED to get that point across. I can here some of you parenting experts out there listing all kinds of other options.  Get their attention, get on their eye level, speak calmly but sternly.  Give them natural consequences.  Divert their attention. I do these, I really do.  I am the QUEEN of ...

Over the Christmas break, my baby sitter quit.  I spent the next 2 weeks searching for child care and discovered something. I live in a child care desert. DESERT! There is not one child care facility in my school zone. Not one. My daughters school does offer after school care until 5:30 PM and that is where I currently I have her registered.  They do not offer before care. However, I am used to having child care 6AM to 6 PM. I live 45 miles from where I work.  By the time I drive (with traffic), park and get into work, it takes about an hour and half. So I work for 8 hours, with a 30 minute lunch:  8.5 Normal traffic to work each morning:                1.5 Normal traffic from work each morning:             1.5 Total time I HAVE to be away from home:       11.5 hours. See why I NEED 12 complete hours of child care. The normal traffic does not allow for wrecks or incr...

Walking across the church parking lot, I reach for my daughters hand.  "I don't need to hold your hand" says my daughter.  Absent mindedly I ask "oh, are you too big to hold my hand now?" "Well, I'm almost six. So the answer might be yes" :short pause: "But don't be mad " she finishes, "I'm almost six." And in one poetic conversation, my daughter reminds me that she is growing up AND that I can't be "mad" about it.  She is almost 6.