Exploring Beyond Behavior

When raising a child, it’s very easy to focus on the behaviors. Why are they doing this or acting a certain way? We immediately place blame on the child and usually get upset, whether that’s in front of the child or not. But what if we took the time to look beyond the behavior? What is causing it and how can possibly talking about it help remedy it? Writer Carla Naumburg documented her personal story for the Huffington Post and explains her journey of realization.

My little girl cried; the couch is her preferred spot in our living room. I was conflicted. I felt terrible about how upset my daughter was, but I was at the end of my rope and I felt like I needed to make a point. I needed my daughter to understand that there are consequences to her actions.

She looked at me through her tears and said, “I wish you wouldn’t get angry at me, Mommy.”

It took everything I had not to burst into tears myself, as I knew that would upset my daughter even more. I also knew I had done the wrong thing, but I wasn’t sure how to fix it.