Our guest blogger this week is Christine Barker. Christine does family literacy programming in Yellowknife and strives to be a better parent.
A few weeks ago I selected the Literacy and Parenting Skills workshop when I participated in family literacy training in Edmonton. I thought it would be a great fit given that the people I work with are constantly questioning their abilities as parents. They are all wonderful people and doing a great job.
Kids do not come with a manual, but I believe that treating others how we would like to be treated goes a long way.
Before I left for Edmonton, I told my ‘perfectionist daughter’ - "Don't worry if you can’t keep up with all the chores, it's not easy".
Well, when I got home from a week away from my three kids (18, 11 and 10 years old), I started to yell because the house was messy, though really no different than usual. I thought just maybe they would invite Cinderella or Snow White and all their animal friends in for a cleaning bee. No such luck.
After I collected myself, I did the dishes and a few other chores. We all went to bed feeling unhappy.
When I woke up the next morning I thought, "What did I do last night? I had better correct this". So as any good person should do, I apologized for my mistake. I wrote them a note and as they woke up I gave them each a hug and read them my apology.
"To my kids. I am sorry for not being able to see how grown up and independent all of you are. I should have been happy that you all were safe and made it through a week ALL ON YOUR OWN. I am sorry for all my ranting and yelling. I will try harder not to be so critical. Love Mom"
As a parent and a human being I try to bend just like in the Tanya Tucker song -
‘Strong Enough to Bend.’ "There's a tree out in the back yard, that has never been broken by the wind."
- Christine Barker
