embracing change

[flowmom]

So I was snuggling with the children this morning, S6 was joking around about spanking. The truth is that he doesn't really know what a spanking really is. I explained what it was, and said that I believe that hurting people isn't a way of solving problems, and that I try to help my children behave by working on solutions with them. The S6 says "well Papa isn't a very good example of that because he shouts and punches*". I just validated that that doesn't feel good.

Children are more and more reluctant to cooperate with H and spend time with him. He doesn't realize that under the circumstances of separate residences, a screw-up like Wednesday is going to take more effort on his part to reconnect afterwards. The built-in bonding of living together is not present. I predict reluctance on the children's part when the next sleepovers come around.

* Clarification: H does not punch the children to my knowledge. But the occasional hit or rough handling is extremely upsetting to my children.