Thursday, February 18, 2010

Whining Kills Slowly


I have been known to be called a patient person. I have a Bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education. I have Masters and Specialists degrees in educational and school psychology. I have been a classroom teacher, special education teacher, and school psychologist. I deal with children everyday. I am a Positive Behavior Supports Coach. I have read all about Love and Logic parenting and teaching. HOWEVER, when I am home after work, getting dinner ready, and my own child is whining (ooohh, the whining), all I can do sometimes is GROAN LOUDLY and growl, “Stop! UGH!” You would think there would be a reservoir of strategies. But sometimes, none of that matters when you are a tired working mother, especially when dealing with whining. I am surprised whining does not cut glass. Or at least make it vibrate a little. It gives me an eye twitch. I used to think that the t-shirts that said something like, “Mommy drinks because you cry,” were terrible, but now I kind of get it. While my eyes roll back in my head for a moment and I take a big, deep breath, I will TRY to be a good mommy and say (in a sing-songy voice), “I will listen when you talk nice,” and then calmly go along with what I am doing until I hear “nice talk.” Barf. All I really have to say is whining sucks. And it’s killing me slowly.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

My wonderful mom response is often "Get away from me if you are going to whine." Such a sweet thing to say to a child I haven't seen all day. I feel your pain.

Sarah

Kristy @Loveandblasphemy said...

Our sweet Sarah says, "Get away from me?" Excellent, I'll start using that one too! :)

Anonymous said...

whine requires WINE

Once they are old enough to be in their room alone, try my strategy of just picking them up, placing them in their room and saying you can come out when you stop whining. I have to do this because my verbal responses if I stay near them for too long cause the "fly off the handle" not so nice responses. It is the strapping around your leg and whining that they seemed to be born with the instinct ability to perform on que and so perfectly.....hmmm...love the pic that matches your story!

diane thoma said...

oops I posted that, i don't get the select a profile thing at the end. virgin blogger....

Katie said...

kristy, i ddin't start out with infants and toddlers, i jumped right in witht he teens. whining teenagers are not any easier, maybe just quiter and not so inclined to attch themselves to you. they laugh and poke fun at me because i give them the "teacher" look when their whining has hit my last nerve. when they start in with thie whining i just wanna say "barf"!

Katie said...

by the way, michael wanted me to tell you that he enjoyed(s) your blogs.

Kristy @Loveandblasphemy said...

Yay! Holla to the dads!

Patricia said...

I hated it as a kid when my parents would tell me to stop whining because I really didn't feel I was whining. Apparently it drove them nuts. Now I can understand why. You'd think I'd be more sensitive since it bothered me so much.. but no.