As a step daughter and step grand daughter, I followed the examples that were set for me years before when I became a step parent. The way my stepson finally came to love and respect me as his step mother, was through all of the "trying" experiences we had. Excuse the pun, but raising kids is a very trying experience!
One of the first times my stepson "tried" or tested my word and consistency was over catching the school bus. Nick was not a morning person and that made getting up in time for school in the morning a problem. Myself having lunches to pack, and two other kids who were already responsible for getting themselves up, Nick knew that I expected him to do his thing in the morning. When he missed the bus the first time, I informed him that I would drive him to school that one time, and one time only!
Just a couple of weeks later on another early school morning, I could tell Nick was going to miss the bus if he didn't move a lot faster and told him so. I left it at that, went about my business, and sure enough Nick came to me with a sorrowful look on his face saying that he had missed the bus. I said, "You had better get your rollerblades on then or you will be late for the start of school!" Nick was incredulous and asked if I was sure I could not take him to school, and I told him that he got his one and only ride the first time he missed the bus and he better get a move on.
His next excuse was that he was going to be all sweaty if he had to blade all the way to school (about 4 miles), and I told him to take an extra shirt. When next I saw him, he was sitting on the curb in front of our house lacing his skates up, shirt off, back pack at the ready and I watched him skate off down the road with a smile on my face.
He had just experienced the result of testing my consistency as a step parent and found that it was the same as my habit with my biological kids! Whether they know it or not, all kids feel safe, special, and protected when rule is consistently applied.
Sandy Williams, Life Coach at International Stepfamily Foundation, member of Stepfamily Association of America & founder of http://www.stepfamilysuccess.com
no-contract cleaning service Glenview ..This year alone, 1,600 teenagers aged 15 to 19 will... Read More
As with everything, names go through cycles of change with... Read More
I remember watching my 18-month-old son eat a big frosted... Read More
Many public schools not only fail to educate our children,... Read More
Researching career education uncovered the following shocking statistic: The average... Read More
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is making... Read More
You may think once your child has gone off to... Read More
Identity and Your Fraternal TwinFor the most part, throughout this... Read More
Dads, please let me encourage you to change some things... Read More
Why are more people, especially parents not outraged?I call it... Read More
Often, the struggle at dinnertime with your picky eater is... Read More
Have you ever wondered why toys for babies tend to... Read More
The Internet is one of the greatest inventions of all... Read More
Once upon a time, I thought I had it all.... Read More
Having worked with parents for the last 35 years and... Read More
As mothers, we play so many different roles and most... Read More
The 'phone conversation had nothing at all to do with... Read More
There are so many learning labels floating around these days... Read More
Now is an excellent time to have your child's vision... Read More
Many times, we are so conditioned in how we speak... Read More
Coping with a child's bad behavior, perhaps more than any... Read More
I've often thought that in 6 million years, archaeologists will... Read More
Past experience with federal education programs predicts that the No... Read More
A sure way to double the joys of parenthood is... Read More
John Bishop's Goal Setting for Students.comParents ? Minimize Homework Hassles?It's... Read More
house cleaning company Glencoe ..The question I have for you drives right to the... Read More
Julia Roberts recently gave birth to twins: Hazel and Phinnaeus.... Read More
As mothers, we play so many different roles and most... Read More
In speaking with parents a comment I frequently hear is... Read More
"Good parents give their children Roots and Wings." --Jonas SalkThe... Read More
Have you made your usual New Year resolutions? You know... Read More
O.K. So now you have taken the step of having... Read More
You are sitting with the professionals who know about learning... Read More
Something eerily familiar happened in KwaZulu-Natal's Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park in Africa... Read More
Our children are growing up bilingual in the French part... Read More
Here is an easy, inexpensive and fun kid experiment for... Read More
It was no contest. Given a choice between a ball... Read More
In the last few years, parents started getting more and... Read More
What Children Look for in a Friend?Is this child fun... Read More
Just the other day, I was talking to some other... Read More
I'm sure many of you have heard that old Hallmark... Read More
(Isaiah 11:6 KJV) The wolf also shall dwell with the... Read More
As a parent, are you at your wits end? Does... Read More
The distressed adolescent often has feelings of abandonment, emotional detachment,... Read More
"He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds... Read More
In dealing with children with autism spectrum disorders, its all... Read More
A learning disability is defined as a permanent problem that... Read More
Reasearch into children's friendships shows that those children who are... Read More
If You're Having Twins..is it double the headache, or double... Read More
Whether children attend public or private schools, they benefit when... Read More
Parenting |