Toddlers are curious about anything and everything. And once in a while, these little toddlers will inevitably get on our nerves.We prepared a jug of drinking water with some slices of lemon in it and left it on the kitchen table. The fragrant acidic taste offers a nice refreshing tint to our drinking water.
While I was in the living room, from the kitchen came a loud bang - thud - crash!
Rushing into the kitchen, I was greeted with the sight of my boy - scared stiff, with broken pieces of the water jug lying beside a pair of tiny feet in a pool of water... ...
I felt a rush of anger boiling from my gut. "WHAT HAPPENED!" I exclaimed with a heavy tone of disapproval. My kid looked lost and worried. Not exactly sure what has happened at all.
Before I reprimand and attempt to discipline him, I remembered a lesson that I picked up from a parenting audio program. "What is more important to me? My kid or the jug?" No question about it. It is the jug.... =D Of course..... I am kidding... My kids are most important!
My tonality shifted. It became soft and loving. "Are you okay? Anywhere pain pain?"
My kid is still in a slight shock and just murmured "Ok. No..."
I did a physical check of his feet and told him to keep still. "As long as you are okay. You are so important to Daddy and Mummy. It will be so painful if the jug hit your feet. Next time hands away from the kitchen table okay?"
I think the incident had been etched into his memory. Till today, a gentle reminder is all I need when he reach out to touch thing on the kitchen table.
If you are a parent, you probably have been in or would be facing a similar situation. It may be your favorite vase, cup, etc... that is broken. I hope that this can serve you when the situation arise and you can then ask yourself the question. "What is more important to me? My kid or this thing that is broken?"
Cheers and Happy Parenting!
