jenny_islander
05-01-2010, 11:28 AM
I just wanted to put in a good word for all the talk about ages and stages that I have read here at GCM. It really opened my eyes. Instead of pestering, pestering, pestering, YELLING about something that my kids "refused" to do, I threw out feelers now and then to see whether they were ready to do it, and if they weren't yet able to connect steps A and B or stay on task for the time required, I backed off. The stress level in our house went way down when I quit the nagging and pushing and poking. And now Sophia clears the table without being told and wipes it down to a high gloss, while Eva refused any help in cleaning up her toys because she wants to do it all by herself--and she does! And they don't have a backlog of mad Mommy moments simmering in their heads as they work.