Someone IS watching

Creepy, right?

A few weeks ago I came across an article titled "parent like someone is watching."  The writer talked about how many people act differently when someone else might be watching, especially parents.  A mom will yell less, is less likely to spank, and are often more composed when they are in public and a child misbehaves.  I agreed with what she had to say.  At home, when I run out of patience I am liable to yell, but in public I keep my voice down more.  There are days when I can be very patient and don't yell at all, and then there are days when I run out of patience quickly and I find myself yelling more, and yes, even rarely giving a swat on the bottom.  I feel bad about those days.

As I thought about what I had read I came to realize that someone is always watching.  It should seem obvious that the very children we are parenting are always watching, but not so obvious are the children on the other side and Christ-- they are always watching too.  So I should parent that way.  Since I realized this I have tried to be more patient, raise my voice less, read my scriptures, and pray more.  I find that reading my scriptures invites the spirit so I am less inclined to yell, since that drives the spirit away.  I pray more so that I will be able to be more patient, be more inspired in how best to help and discipline my children, and so I can parent more like someone is watching.  I Love my children and want to set a good example for them.  I don't want them to think of me as their mommy who yells all the time or to be afraid of a spanking, I want them to feel love and support, even in the moments that I want to yell.  I'm not anywhere close to perfect, and I still yell sometimes, but it has gotten less and I find that I am happier, Mr. E is happier, and our home is happier since I started trying to parent like someone is watching.

Also, Happy 4 months to Baby J!