No parent enters parenthood fully aware and prepared for the surprises parenthood brings. If all parents had a crash-course on parenthood, it would have been one of the easiest things to do. That is why when parents begin to notice that their child is ignoring the rules, they begin to panic as well.
The inevitable time will come when that cute little baby that you have nurtured and cuddled through the night becomes a determined preschooler who screams at you and demands that you turn the TV on, “right now”. Seeing your child act like that the first time could make you think back and evaluate if you have done something wrong to get that much hate from your kid. Although the emotion could be real, hatred is not exactly what your child feels.
It is normal to feel violated and hurt when your child begins to get out of hand and engage in scandalous behaviors. In fact, keeping your emotions in check and trying not to take things personally can be really difficult to do.
But if it is any consolation, it is actually a good sign that your child begins to challenge your rules and attempts to demand what they want. When your child breaks your heart without worrying about you not loving them afterwards actually means a developmental milestone. But still, it does not mean that the behavior is acceptable.
Every parent has his and her own set of standards to discipline and acceptable behaviors, so you have to get to work and recognize what is proper behavior to you.
When you hear your child say, “I hate you!” in a firm and loud voice, breathe and relax. Do not take it personally because actually, what he is trying to say is something like “I’m hungry or I’m exhausted or I’m scared” and so on.
Do not let your emotions get the best of you, instead try some active listening and communication techniques to help you acknowledge what your child truly feels while letting him know that his behavior is out of bounds. Do not contradict what your child said in order to avoid getting into a power struggle.
So next time your child tells you something rude or yells something hurtful at you, respond in a calm voice, “I understand that you are angry because you want to eat your cookie now, but shouting at mommy like that is bad.” Introducing your child to what is right and what is not will help you feel in control while you reinforce his limitations in the process. On top of that, you were able to teach your child right from wrong without getting too emotional or too absorbed in the matter.
Searching for parenting help? We highly recommend The Total Transformation Program for parents dealing with Abusive Children. Check on the link for more information.

