(no subject)
Kids are a huge undertaking. They take all of your energy and time, and you get very little in return, and none of it tangible. Don't get me wrong, I love my kids an I enjoy our time together, and I enjoy seeing them grow and change. I'm proud of their accomplishments, and the people they're becoming.
It's so easy to focus on the bad things, to take all the annoyances and negative experiences to heart, though. It can be all too easy to forget that the little shit that's screaming at his sibling, and being an inexcusable smartass to you is just a person who isn't finished growing up yet. (And worse yet, their shortcomings are probably all your fault.)
Our therapist wants me to be harder on the kids. I concede that I certainly need to be stricter; I've not been as consistent in discipline as I should be, or as quick as I should be in putting a stop to negative behavior. "Divorced dad" is a hard position to be in, though; you find yourself needing to be both mother and father, and I've usually found it easier to be the nurturing, communicative type in any case.
They all grow up eventually though. Get what you can before you only talk to them on holidays and the odd weekend call.
It's so easy to focus on the bad things, to take all the annoyances and negative experiences to heart, though. It can be all too easy to forget that the little shit that's screaming at his sibling, and being an inexcusable smartass to you is just a person who isn't finished growing up yet. (And worse yet, their shortcomings are probably all your fault.)
Our therapist wants me to be harder on the kids. I concede that I certainly need to be stricter; I've not been as consistent in discipline as I should be, or as quick as I should be in putting a stop to negative behavior. "Divorced dad" is a hard position to be in, though; you find yourself needing to be both mother and father, and I've usually found it easier to be the nurturing, communicative type in any case.
They all grow up eventually though. Get what you can before you only talk to them on holidays and the odd weekend call.