Today, I’m heading to Portland to visit my daughter, and I can hardly believe she’s graduated from college and is now navigating adulthood on her own. As I packed, memories of her childhood flooded my mind, reminding me just how quickly time has flown. How is she already 22 years old?
Reflecting on those memories, one particular incident stands out as one of my proudest moments in parenting. When she was in first or second grade, we stood in the kitchen post-dinner, and she couldn’t stop giggling about the word “Shih Tzu.” To her, it was a clever way to say “shit” without actually saying it.
After hearing “Shih Tzu” for what felt like the hundredth time, I finally said, “That’s enough, okay? Stop.”
She mischievously replied, “Stop what? Stop saying ‘Shih Tzu’?”
“Listen, if you say it one more time, you’re going to bed at 8:30,” I warned.
At this point, my older son, Jake, who was two years her senior, perked up.
Sara laughed, “You’re not going to make me go to bed at 8:30!”
As the tension rose, I felt a bead of sweat form. Deep down, both kids knew I had made threats like this before but had never gone through with them. They believed their electronics were safe and that I wouldn’t really enforce any consequences.
In that moment, I realized this was a pivotal opportunity. I could either teach my kids that their actions had consequences or continue to let them believe they could get away with anything. Jake subtly nodded in encouragement, and I took a deep breath.
“Sara, you’re going to bed at 8:30,” I stated firmly.
She protested, “You don’t mean it. I promise I won’t say it again!”
“I do mean it. You’ve had your warnings,” I replied, maintaining my resolve.
When she erupted into tears and ran from the room, I glanced at Jake, who was grinning ear to ear. “Good job, Mom,” he said. “I didn’t think you’d actually do it.”
In that moment, I learned a valuable lesson. It was one of my proudest parenting moments because I showed them I could keep my promises—and more importantly, that their actions have consequences. From that day forward, I became a more consistent parent, and my children began to take my words seriously.
Ironically, Sara now works with dogs, focusing on obedience training. You can bet that when I visit, she’ll share all about the significance of consistency and follow-through in her job. It’s clear that the lesson truly resonated.
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In summary, parenting is a journey filled with lessons, and the importance of follow-through is one of the most valuable. It’s not just about discipline; it’s about teaching children that their choices have real consequences, shaping them into responsible adults.
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