Parenting Is Hard but Worth It
Similar to other parents, my husband and I work tirelessly to help our children become respectful and well-adjusted individuals. We do what we can to provide them the tools they need to achieve anything they want on this circular rock.
Sometimes we faulter.
We don't claim to be perfect parents. In fact, there's no such thing. All we can do is learn from our mistakes and move forward. Which brings me to the main focal point of this particular piece.
I would like to give you a small glimpse into the experiences we have had that have changed our perspectives on the way we play this fun, exciting and sometimes scary game of parenting.
Back in 2016, our oldest son, who was six at the time, began acting rather strange. He began to act out at home and in school. This behavior then began to affect his younger brother, then two. Of course, we began with the usual punishments. Stern talking to, groundings, as well as removal of certain loved items for a time. Yet, nothing helped.
After a year of the behavior continuing to grow, we had come to the conclusion that there was an underlying issue. We began seeking assistance from our pediatrician. Explaining our son's behavior and outbursts. Almost instantaneously, our pediatrician suggested we test our son for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD).
After weeks of appointments and therapy sessions, he was finally diagnosed.
At first, I was skeptical. The doctors were suggesting that we put our young child on medications to counteract the behavior issues.
Everything I had ever heard about ADHD medications was bad. I didn't want our son being in a zombie-like state for the remainder of his adolescence. However, our doctors were so helpful. They went over all options, all different medications and therapies and assured us that we would change things if we were unhappy with results.
Six years and four different medications later, our now 12-year-old son is thriving. His behavior has completely turned over and he is able to express himself in healthier ways. He has even had a personal self-help manager for the past two years that has gotten him to open up more about his thoughts and feelings.
My husband and I also had to change some behaviors. We were unaware that the steps we were taking, the normal reactions to inappropriate behavior, were actually making the issue worse rather than better.
We were so focused on what we already knew about parenting that we didn't stop and think about all the things we didn't know.
As parents, we are always expecting ourselves to have the right answers quickly. We forget that we are still learning every day. There is always more to this job than we are first taught. Do not stress if you do not have all the quick responses. Allow yourself to keep learning, keep growing and keep improving.
Parenting is a stressful and magical experience. Take the good with the bad and keep striving to be the best you can be every day. Your little ones will thank you for it.
š§”Shine Bright, Kayla
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