Over the last 5 years my attention has been taken away from my family. I have literally 'forgotten' how I wanted to parent. Did you catch the 'I wanted' there? I have always known I needed to parent in a different way from the way I was parented. I am now starting to realise just what this means.
Now don't get me wrong - I do not blame my parents for parenting me as they did - they did what they could with the resources and experiences they had. The result of the parenting I received however means I am burdened down with the injunctions that they moulded me with. The phrase that sums up my up-bringing is 'Stop Showing Off'. The effect of those three words has been devastating. They were said for absolutely anything I did that was in any way different from how they behaved, the words came to mean - 'Stop being you'.
I remember with horror the first time I said it to my daughter - I think she was about 7 years old. Fortunately I had confided in my husband about this injunction and so was able to talk to him about it afterwards. It is not until I started to have counselling however that I have realised how far this injunction and all that follows it still affect me. With my attention elsewhere for the last 5 years (looking after mum, dad and my niece) I have sort of lost the plot with my different way of parenting.
I have happily given over a day every 14 days (over the last 6 weeks) to my niece, however I am still not giving my own children their own time with me.
Last week, I managed to watch a movie with both of them (individually - they have very different tastes). I love the way God knows what my hearts desire really is. Today I was in a quandary. I had planned to take my daughter shopping this morning, knowing I had counselling this afternoon. However a friend asked if A would like to go for a group bike ride (something she loves) first thing. I thought maybe we could shop in between finishing that and me going out. While she was out though I started to think that it was all going to be too much of a rush. As a result when she came in I gave her the choice. Either we could go straight away or she could come and meet me in Winchester after I had finished. She chose the later and I am so pleased she did.
It gave me chance to talk through lots of issues with my counsellor, stuff that tied me down and needed bringing out in the open so that I could really do what I wanted to do - that is SPOIL my daughter.
And so I did. We had so much fun, shopping for a couple of hours and then going out to eat together. Tonight I am very exhausted...............but very happy and proud of myself.
Now don't get me wrong - I do not blame my parents for parenting me as they did - they did what they could with the resources and experiences they had. The result of the parenting I received however means I am burdened down with the injunctions that they moulded me with. The phrase that sums up my up-bringing is 'Stop Showing Off'. The effect of those three words has been devastating. They were said for absolutely anything I did that was in any way different from how they behaved, the words came to mean - 'Stop being you'.
I remember with horror the first time I said it to my daughter - I think she was about 7 years old. Fortunately I had confided in my husband about this injunction and so was able to talk to him about it afterwards. It is not until I started to have counselling however that I have realised how far this injunction and all that follows it still affect me. With my attention elsewhere for the last 5 years (looking after mum, dad and my niece) I have sort of lost the plot with my different way of parenting.
I have happily given over a day every 14 days (over the last 6 weeks) to my niece, however I am still not giving my own children their own time with me.
Last week, I managed to watch a movie with both of them (individually - they have very different tastes). I love the way God knows what my hearts desire really is. Today I was in a quandary. I had planned to take my daughter shopping this morning, knowing I had counselling this afternoon. However a friend asked if A would like to go for a group bike ride (something she loves) first thing. I thought maybe we could shop in between finishing that and me going out. While she was out though I started to think that it was all going to be too much of a rush. As a result when she came in I gave her the choice. Either we could go straight away or she could come and meet me in Winchester after I had finished. She chose the later and I am so pleased she did.
It gave me chance to talk through lots of issues with my counsellor, stuff that tied me down and needed bringing out in the open so that I could really do what I wanted to do - that is SPOIL my daughter.
why we wanted to be parents is so easy to lose sight of sometimes, you inspire me to make an effort to remember why xxx
ReplyDeletethanks lovely lady x
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