We have a little problem here in the Clark household and its ugly name is correction. The kids have my scripts memorized so well, they use them on each other. For instance, I give everybody their plate of lunch and Elena says, "I wanted the pink plate! I don't want this plate." Isaac responds: "You get what you get and you don't throw a fit. If you aren't thankful for what you have, it will be taken away," and then he starts to take her plate away. This is when I remind Isaac that he's not the mommy and I deal with Elena's attitude.I don't have a problem with tattling, but I do have a problem with self-promotion. Of course, most of the time, that is the purpose of the tattling: to show me how great they are in comparison to their sibling, who's doing something wrong. Correction, in this case, falls along the same lines; the purpose is to elevate self by correcting someone else's sin.
Lately, Chloe has been frequently tempted to correct Daniel. Each time, I remind her: "Chloe, it's not your job to correct Daniel. You need to let me be the mommy and trust that I can handle it." The kids are real legalists, as you will see below.
Last night, Daniel started eating before we had prayed. Maya says, "Daniel you can't eat before we pray! We have to pray first." Then Chloe turns to Maya and says, "Maya, we're not supposed to correct each other! You shouldn't correct him." Anyone else see the irony in her statement?
2 comments:
I see the irony and you would have to know Chloe to understand how very much she wants to be Mommy. But it's great you're dealing with this issue now, since many adults rely on this "self-promotion" attitude!
I have seen that one in my house quite often. Hard to learn how to promote the good in others and not point out the bad as well. You should tell them to try and bite their tongues, literally, when they get the overwhelming urge to tattle. Let me know if it works:)
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