After responding to the thread on parents.. I got thinking. Just like on the Beauty And The Beast... A dangerous pastime indeed! lol. But I was thinking of all the things I do wrong with them. I have two girls. Someone, not to mention names, had posted about their childhood and it really affected me, so I got thinking...

Out of all the things I do wrong, out of all of the ways that I fall short, I know the things that I don't do. I am giving them a childhood that will NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS EVER, EVER end up on these boards! Sure, the issues they have with me may seem like the end of the world to them, but they will never know the issues that I know. They have never and will never know what it is like to have emotionally abusive parents. They will never know about mind games, abuse, neglect or uninvolvement. They will never feel any scorn that we have felt.

I may jump the gun and take away computer priviledges a little quick in our house, but if that's the big thing that they complain about at this point.. which it is... then I need to feel very proud of myself. I should be proud that I have something so great to offer them. They have seen me shout and scream though, seen me take off in the past to cool off... and my heart breaks at the thought of that. But it's something that we have all talked about and they understand what Bipolar is and what it looks like untreated and neglected. They are nine and eleven... and they are HEALTHY!!!!!!!

So don't forget, those of us with kids... how easy it is to get caught up in the moment. STEP BACK AND LOOK! Look at what they will never go through! Look at all the ways.. despite our faults, that we give them so much that we didn't have and be proud of yourselves!

[bluemountains]

You are so right, lands. Sometimes my mood swings make me very irritable, and what I try to do when I feel the irritation rising is to take a time out in another room. I am definitely not perfect, but when I make a mistake with my children I apologize. I, too, take away electronics when necessary.
My t knows 3 out of 4 of my children, and she says that she can see that ours is a very loving relationship both ways.

[Trippin2.0]

dan, thank you

[ChristySpirals]

Awesome post!!