Posts Tagged ‘whining’

Do you Want Some Cheese with That Whine? (W.06.09.10)

I don’t know if it is because I am the mother of two young, passionate girls who have a flair for the drama, or if all parents experience this; but when does the whining STOP?!  It is the #1 childhood characteristic which makes me want to go running for the hills with my husband’s noise canceling headphones suctioned to my ears, join a group of mute meditators who live in tree houses and sleep in hammocks while reading Walt Whitman.  Not that I’ve ever thought this through before…

As a mom, I do let my emotions get me sometimes and inform the girls they need to stop whining at that exact moment.  It unfortunately is a little louder request than I intend.  Actually, the last time I lost it and pleaded for the whining to cease, they both stopped and started laughing.  So I guess my loss of control worked in a backwards way.  We all laughed and went on with our day.

As a nurse, however, I know better than that.  I realize yelling at your child to stop whining does not work.  The child is looking for a reaction from the adult and the yelling definitely counts as a reaction – a poor one, but a reaction.

There is a pretty successful way to cut out the majority of whining, but all caretakers need to be consistent with this method.   When the child starts whining, calmly look at the child confused and say, “I just can’t understand you when you talk like that.”  Treat the whining like they are speaking in Tongues or another language, and ask them to try it again so you can understand them.  The only way this works is if you do this EVERY time a teensy whine comes through their lips.  When the child changes her/his tone of voice to a more tolerable one, you can answer their question or help them out showing them praise with a smile, pat or hug.

This isn’t easy because it takes MUCH repetition and will-power from the parent, but you can do it.  May the “whining poltergeists” in your home be exorcised with these few steps; and the darling, little sweeties return to your dinner table, their car-seats while traveling across town, and when passing the toy section at ANY store.  It will make life much more pleasant – I promise!

©2010, Hatton. All rights reserved.

Tags: Parenting, preschoolers, toddlers, whining
Posted in Parenting Tips, Toddlers (1-2), preschoolers | 2 Comments »

Is it Still Snowy Outside?

I have been one of those women you hear at the grocery store or standing in line at the tattoo parlor, who is becoming Negative Nancy about this year’s winter slap in the face.  I can whine and complain about our arctic temperatures with the best of them –  Voted #1 Member of the Mommy Whine and Dine Club.

However, my negativity needs to stop!  I need to find the sunny side of the street.  Bad example.  I have little ears (my childrens, not mine) soaking up every complaint.  They are learning negativity at every turn. I can hear it now at preschool in the gym, “Mary, this cold weather is awful!  I just can’t get anything done.  It’s cutting into my learning:  my numbers are suffering, my alphabet has tanked, and I’m not even going to mention my shapes!”

I have Californian and Washington state friends in Facebook who are showing pictures of their cats curled up on their deck sunning themselves and speaking of the beautiful day.  Friends hiking up a mountain trail with gentle breezes caressing their cheeks.  The only gentle caressing of my cheeks is when I run back in the house frantically massaging parts of my body I want to regain circulation after being attacked by icy rain pellets.  Was that complaining again?  Sorry. Hard to break old habits.

Now that March is approaching, and here in the Midwest, that means we only have about a month before we might see 50 degrees, I am going to start celebrating spring early.  I am going to have my girls start making colorful art projects out of tissue paper and pipe cleaners.  Fill the house up with vases of paper flowers.  To thumb my nose at old man winter, I am going to turn on every light in the house, crank up the heat, put on our swimming suits, flip flops, and sunglasses and play pool party.  Umbrellas in everybody’s sippy cup!

When I go to the grocery store, instead of complaining in line about the cold and slush, and ice, AND snow…I am going to purchase a bouquet of flowers, set it on the front table, open up the curtains and share it with the neighbors.  Tulips for everyone!!

Happy early Spring fellow Mommies!!!

©2010, Hatton. All rights reserved.

Tags: cold weather, Parenting, role models, whining
Posted in Motherhood, Parenting Tips | Comments Off