I don't know about you, but I have yet to figure out this whole parenting thing. And I'm 6 years in. I thought I was doing an ok job, but things just weren't turning out the way they needed to. My son going to kindergarten had a big part in helping me realize this. Our situation this year also being a big part of the issue, but I refuse to let that be an excuse. My kids aren't horrible nightmares and I didn't feel the need to call that Nanny show... yet, but they were not behaving or treating adults in a way that I could be proud and I knew that was falling back on me.

I voiced my concerns with my in-laws and my mom, telling them that I was tired of getting no respect, being ignored and feeling like a failure. I have tried every style of parenting out there and nothing was working. Well, my sweet mom loves to help out when you have a problem and the day after I talked to her about my concerns, she went and bought me this book: Have A New Kid By Friday. Now I know that some people are offended by people doing things like this, but I welcome it. When you get to a point of desperation and start waving that white flag, you welcome pretty much anything, right? No? Well, I do!

 

Y'all (I've started using this word again since moving back to Alabama. It makes me feel happy when I say it), this book has changed my life. I have to admit, when I saw how thick it was, my first thought was, "How am I going to read all these pages by 'Friday' and apply them?" Good news! The "instruction" portion is actually very short. The rest is answers to 100 questions that you may have.


I still have the last day to read, but people, I have been doing it all wrong. Biggest fail? I caved when I thought things weren't a big deal, but that was my problem. You NEVER cave. EVER. I'm not saying I've got it down pat, or that I'm a perfect mom now, but y'all, my kids are actually minding me better. Christopher has been so much more respectful that I've had to catch myself from falling several times. I'm just hoping that I remember each thing he mentions and keep it up. 


I realized something else this week. Nobody has ever asked me for advice on raising kids. (That should have been my first clue.) Well, except once. It was, "How do you handle grocery shopping? After you load the groceries in your car and have to return the cart and you've got the baby... What do you do?" I told her to try to always park near the cart collector. And I learned that when I was a nanny. 


I give this book 5 stars and 1 happy mommy! : )