You just wait!
Parents, have you ever bragged about your kid being well behaved in some area and then received a response like this?
“Oh, you just wait. That’ll change. You’ll see!”
You’ve heard it, right? “Kids are so much fun at that age. Enjoy it while it lasts.” “Just wait until they are teenagers.” I’m sure I’ve said it a time or two, and maybe you have too. Even with this second baby on the way we find ourselves joking that because Luke is so great, of course the next one will just be a total stinker.
But that’s not fair. Why do we have to be so pessimistic? Why do we need to assume it’s going to get worse or that good behavior won’t last? Luke does a great job of cleaning up his toys and darn it, I will continue to expect him to clean up his toys as long as he lives in our home. I am hereby refusing to take the attitude that we are just lucky that he is so willing to do this task now and that some day the bottom will drop out and we’ll never be able to get him to clean up again. Who’s in charge here anyway? Who’s the boss? 
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June 9th, 2009 at 12:21 am
I am totally with you! Although I have to laugh because if you ask my 2.5 year old who’s the boss, you don’t get the correct answer
I am a firm believer that chilren are born with their own personalities and wills but that the shaping of those personalities and wills begins with Mom and Dad at the start! We too expect Beth to pick up her toys, put dirty clothes in the hamper and say please and thank you. Those are not unreasonable things to expect, they are life requirements and in this house they are non-negotiable. Teenage attitude or not (I certainly had one) she will still follow the rules of this home or deal with the consequences.
So I say ignore the “just waits”. Because really we all know the challenges are coming but who wants to waste the wonders of what great kids we have on waiting for their failure? I’d rather relish in their successes!