The first time I laid eyes on Wynter Pitts’ magazine – For Girls Like You – I knew it was going to be something special. . . just like her. Filled with creativity, beauty and refreshing conversation, both she and her magazine are a breath of fresh air.
Wynter’s a mom. That’s the headline of her resume.
She loves her four girls with a passion so fierce and focused that it compelled her to create a solution for the lack of suitable entertainment options available for her brood. Instead of whine and complain, she got busy forming a magazine for tween girls and filling it with fun, engaging articles that hundreds of young girls are enjoying.
I’m grateful for women like this – innovators, creators, life-lovers, mothers, wives, friends. She inspires me to be a better, more intentional mom and to use what God has put in my hands to edify others and honor God.
You’ll love getting to know Wynter today and, if you are a mom of girls, a subscription to this magazine is just what the doctor ordered!
Enjoy!
Priscilla
Girls and Squirrels – 3 Ways To Avoid The Drama
I am not really sure of the details in the story I am about to tell you.
Here’s what I know –
It was dark and I was asleep. I am assuming it was somewhere between midnight and 5 a.m. when our two oldest daughters (9 & 6) came storming into our room in a panic. Ok, actually it was probably just the 9 year old in the panic and her little sister wasn’t really sure why she was hurrying into my bed. She and I were on the same page. Confused.
I could hear the commotion happening but I could not balance my thoughts enough to respond. I was lost somewhere in that awkward place between good sleep and the realities of motherhood.
Here’s what I saw –
The confused daughter was sitting in the middle of my bed, patiently rocking herself while sucking her two fingers. The older one was panic-stricken. Tears were flowing excessively and while words appeared to be coming out of her mouth she just couldn’t pull herself together enough to make them string into a sentence. Her emotions had taken over.
Somewhere in the midst of trying to focus on the girls, I got a glimpse of my husband doing some sort of manly, protective, king of the jungle ritual. He hopped out of bed, ran to the bedroom door, skipped over to the window, fixed the blinds, jumped across to the other side of the bed and mumbled, “Where’s my bat?!” He then took off to finish the routine in the living room.
At this point I sat up and asked, “What is wrong,” to which my sweet girl replied, “I heard a squirrel crying in the creek.”
Huh?
Exactly.
I am pretty sure my husband was responding to the exaggerated emotions of his baby girl rather than the realities of what was happening. He probably never even asked why she was so upset. Of course, to his defense, it was dark, he was exhausted and barely awake.
However our little bedtime drama caused me to wonder how often this scenario of over-reaction plays out in my life on a daily basis.
I am guilty of reacting to my kid’s emotions.
I think we can all agree that kids are emotional. Often they respond, think and live within the realm of how they feel. On the other hand, as parents it is our responsibility to provide them with tools to help guide them through processing their feelings. It is also our responsibility to respond and react according to their realities instead of getting caught up with them in their emotions.
If it’s just a “squirrel” our facial expressions, gestures, and words should reflect that.
Here are three simple tips to help you avoid getting caught up in the emotions.
1. Listen to your children
Really listening to my daughter’s explanation that night might have eased the tension and led to a very different and less eventful evening. We often times respond to their body language, tone, or our immediate perception of the situation. Taking the time to listen might change everything in a moment.
2. Understand the environment
Our home backs up to a wooded creek and the whole back wall of our house is glass. From my daughter’s youthful vantage point everything out of those windows were magnified. Remembering this can help me put myself in my daughter’s shoes and see things from her perspective. Know what is going on in your child’s world. Is she having problems with a friendship? Did she not sleep well last night? Understanding these variables will help you be somewhat more sensitive to her needs.
3. Choose the appropriate tools
A bat did absolutely nothing to solve our dilemma with the sad squirrel, but a hug probably would have done the trick. Figure out early what approach or tool might assist you, rather than adding to her breakdown.
The next time a squirrel gets upset in your backyard pray for wisdom on how you can apply these simple tips to help avoid the drama.
What are a few practical things you do to help your child sort through their emotions?
