The Self Discipline of Discipline

Getting my children to listen to me once in a while is monumental feat. I'm guessing some of you mamas out there can probably relate? For me, the trick isn't always in getting my children to do what I ask it's me having the resolve to continue to expect it. I tell my daughter during the day that she can not come lay in my bed in the middle of the night but when 1 am rolls around and she is at the side of my bed asking to lay with me it is SO much easier to pull back the blankets and let snuggle up until she falls asleep. Is this sending her the wrong message? Probably, but in the wee hours of the morning I'm not up for a debate or even totally awake. Being a mother is a constant test of self discipline not just with the kids but with ourselves, eating the right food not succumbing to the wrong food or getting everything done that needs to get done while the kids are at school, when all you want to do is veg out on the couch and  watch the latest episode of Parenthood on your DVR, in peace and quiet.

One of my kid's favorite things to do is ask me for something I would normally say no to when I'm on the phone talking to someone. "Can I have a bowl of mini marshmallows?" "Can you buy me a toy next time we go to the store?" I've actually found myself giving my daughter a (small) bowl of marshmallows just so I could get back to my conversation with someone I haven't seen or talked to in 5 years. That is a classic case of seriously lacking in self discipline. My point is, my children (and sometimes my husband) will never stop trying to see how far I'll bend before I break, they're not bad kids (husband) it's just in their nature to see what they can get away with before I drop the proverbial hammer. If any of this rings true for you my advice is to pick your battles, we're too damn tired and busy to be fighting and debating all of the time, so pick what means most to you and stick with that. It'll be tough at first but eventually they will see you're not messing around and maybe someday they will realize you did it because you love them.