The Lazy Organizer

Count me in on this! Hmmm…. what is my biggest parenting frustration… just today, right? So hard to choose, really. I think we struggle with parenting children who are 9 years apart in age, catering to two different stages (14 & 5) while trying to instill independence and wisdom in the 14 year old, not making him the 3rd parent, while still considering the age and stage of the precocious 5 year old. Any help with parenting different stages/ages?

My biggest parenting frustration in a word is….me. I am inconsistent many times and I know that sends a mixed message to my children. How are they supposed to learn when I fail to be consistent in handing out praises or punishments? I was very consistent when my older three children were young but somehow with the addition of more children I have allowed myself to become “soft” in the discipline area.

Wow, I am so glad that I watched that. Amazing. I don’t know if I could have been so calm in the face of that.
Ok, so my biggest frustration as a parent is the ability to keep control and calm myself. When things are bad I want my children to tell me but I do not think I am giving them the COMFORT to do so if I am not in control of my control of myself.
This has given me a lot to think about. Thank you!

Right now my biggest parenting frustration is my 2 year old, sweet, adorable daughter is too “assertive”. Sometimes you could read that as too bossy, well more often than sometimes, with her friends. Our neighbor’s son, who is a few weeks older, doesn’t want to play with her but his sister is my 6 y/o’s best friend.

I really enjoyed the show, I hope Hannah and James are doing well! My biggest parenting problem is me: I am a lazy parent. This is most obvious in consistency and my attitude/tone. Actually Lara, I am using your blog as inspiration to teach myself and my children to work! (In that order.) I think Nicholeen’s book would be a huge help to me too!

So I am a relatively new mom, my oldest just turned 2, but right now I am getting really frustrated at how she is always saying no and straight out disobeying. She thinks time out is a joke so I am at a lose for what to do with her to help her see that when she listens she is happier.

My biggest frustration right now is my kids lack of obedience. Sibling Rivalry is a big problem, too but I think everything starts with obedience and respect.

Pick me Pick me! I watched the whole show- I am least likely to hear her speak on the East coast. I really want her book to deal with kids who push the envelope some days……gees…desperate to win someones give away! Love ya!

Wow. I just watched the whole thing all I can say is AMAZING! I have to ditto everything in the other comments.
There are so many frustrations – boys constantly fighting, girl ignoring me, too much of everything electronic, not enough order, complaining, inconsistency…I could go on. Needless to say, I could learn a thing or two from such awesome people!

I’ve loaded plenty of frustrations on you already, but for the masses, let’s say… lack of respect and backtalking. From one child mainly, but it rubs off on the others sometimes.

I hate being too negative, though, so I have to share my latest parenting breakthrough too – knowing enough about who I am to use my own gifts and talents to be a better parent.

Lara says: Thank you for being so uplifting Marni!

Great giveaway!

My biggest parenting frustration is…taking things too personal. I tend to get sooo frustrated at my kids behaviors, as if they are a personal affront to me. My daughter get frustrated at a project, I get frustrated at her. My son doesn’t want to get in the bath and decides to play a-catch-me-if-you-can, I get really irate. My reactions are not teaching them how to react properly to frustrations in their life. That was the most amazing thing with Nicoleen on the show… she never lost her cool, even when the teens were acting their worst and yelling at her. She stayed calm and collected, and it made such a difference in her communication. I would love to know her secret to staying calm and not taking it so personal.

I’ve been anticipating Nicholeen’s book for over a year since I attended one of her seminars. She is amazing, but at the time I didn’t implement many things I learned because I thought using work as a consequence for bad behavior would change the positive attitude my kids had about helping around the house. Well, now we have some behavior issues and work isn’t the cooperative thing it used to be. Everyone in our house, parents included, have attitudes of entitlement that have to stop!

I watched the BBC episodes last week. They are amazing. I need to win this!

Would love a copy of the book! Enjoyed the espisode and wish I could learn to be more like her! I don’t know if I have any big frustrations with my children? More than anything I think I get more frustrated with myself for maybe not making the right parenting choices every time! I guess it is just trial and error!

I have heard her speak she has some great advise! Right now my frustration is my kids remembering to pick up after themselves with all the little clutter. They are pretty good about the big things but the little cluttery stuff that they think they will come back to but then don’t oh it can really get frustrating!

My biggest frustrations are getting the kids to work and not losing control when I’m frustrated with them. I try to remain calm, but somehow the kids know just when to push me over the edge. I loved in the show how calm Nichleen stayed when the teens were being rude. I’m couldn’t have done that right now. Thanks for introducing me to a great example of good parenting.

I had to ask my husband the answer to this. We were both at our witts end. We have been on a MISSION for the last 6 weeks and have dramatically turned our parenting around. I credit 3 things. First I prayed for wisdom in parenting and frequently made that my Wednesday night request at church. The answer came in the form of the “Parenting is Hard” series here and an 8 cd and book series called Parenting is Heart Work from the Naional Center on Biblical Parenting. So, when I asked my husband today he said the biggest challenge now is finding time for me to carve out a life for myself since I’m completely burned out. Wow, he is so right, plus he’s paying attention!

I would so love to be picked to win!!! I am also a homeschooling mother of 3 and after watching the videos would love to know more about what she does. I personally struggle with the balance between friend and mother. I see so many others that try to be their childs best friend and lose the ability to parent. Thank you so much!!!

Hooray for awesome giveaways! Thanks!
My biggest question in raising my 4 kids under 6 is more about me than them. Having them so young and so close together, I really do have ultimate control over their environment. They’re learning boundaries at various different levels, which makes my life difficult— How do you maintain your own sanity and a calm temper when boundaries are being constantly challenged? Parently the very young is exhausting on every level.

…and I forgot to write about my biggest parenting frustration. Right now all the fighting and nit-picking with my four kids is what is getting to me the most. It is hard to stay calm myself with all the arguing, but we are all working on it.

Pouting and not being grateful. Thinking the world is against them, so they do not even hear just how right things are. My oldest son can be so hard at times to want to be around! It is so hard for me to remember to consistently tell him what I like about him. I think I need signs posted all around my house.

My biggest parenting frustration is knowing what to expect out of my children. Do they need to be parented slightly different depending on personalities and differences? Would love to win the book!