Encourage My Kids More

I wrote little Valentine’s notes for the kids to find this morning.

The white board door knob hangers have a habit of wandering off (especially when the 3 year old is busy) so today I got a new one and used packing tape to attach it to my oldest’s door. Then I wrote a “good job” note on it.

My youngest loves the notes I’m leaving on his white board. It’s helping me focus on catching him being good.

Today the boys did a good job cleaning their rooms, so I wrote a little notes saying things like, “nicely made bed!” and “good looking room!”

I am naturally a positive, nurturing person. But somehow with my kids, it comes out the least. That is completely backward.

I think I spend so much time with them, my patience gets worn down. I don’t know if my expectations are too high, or I am spread too thin to deal with more than the problems, or we just got stuck in a negative cycle. It’s probably a combination. I am going to read The Good Enough Child to get some perspective.

A big reason I am spread so thin is that I do so much for them. But if they don’t perceive the way that I am showing them love as love, then this is a problem.

My goal is to say one positive, encouraging thing to each of them every day. I started by writing a positive note on my youngest’s white board.