Whining Gets You Nowhere

Need I say more? I currently have a 4-year-old who thinks whining will help. News alert: it doesn’t, son. It only makes me want to hit my head against the wall and eventually run for the hills.

But luckily, I haven’t run away and continue to love and care for my children #greatparenting. I am taking several moments to breathe these days. With the crying in the morning, crying in the afternoon and crying at night before bed. Why, why, why?

Thankfully I have surrendered and have tried a couple of things to keep everyone sane: 
1. Started researching the middle-child syndrome – yep!
2. Reading a book on the mother/son relationship
3. Attempting cool-down methods– at least for now.

Here’s what I have found in my “scientific research:”

Middle Child Syndrome: Who knew there was one until I HAD a middle child. I am slowly learning that they yearn for a lot of attention and want to be right in your face –literally. This is tough when you have two other children vying for your time, hugs, and kisses. The good thing is my oldest son is into being independent right now, and my youngest – a girl– gets attention just because she’s a girl LOL. That leaves me with trying to give this middle child the personal time he needs and affection.

The Mother/Son Relationship: I started reading What a Difference a Mom Makes. . . and started again . . . and again. I haven’t got through it yet but picked up some nuggets along the way with what I have read. Mother’s are so important in their son’s life. Our sons are eager to please us and seek our approval early on as it makes a lot of sense considering we bore them. We also account for how they see other women and the type of women they eventually marry :o).

Cool Down Methods: Family and friends have told me to count. That didn’t work because I have to get to 100 before I’m calm. In all seriousness, I think what is working is walking away for a moment and letting him figure it out –and then he’s fine. I am also trying a more stern approach about being a big boy now in pre-k . . . no whining aloud. I will say, this is still a work-in-progress because the frustration does come out every now and then.

All in all, I am taking it day by day, whine by wine…cheers!