Despite Some Mature Moments Kids will Still be Kids

Whenever we get together with our friends who have small kids I can’t help but to think to myself “thank god we’re not in that stage anymore!”

It had been quite a while since we had to create a perimeter and monitor our kids’ every move, or worry about markers on walls or counters, painted hand prints on the floor, giving dolls or things other than paper haircuts with safety scissors, or sticking a small something into a body orifice. Just when we started feeling comfortable that our kids were “mature for their ages” and loosen the reigns, an event occurred that collided our fantasy with the reality that we still have little kids at home: our 6 year old gave herself a haircut.

I have to say this event rendered me speechless. This was one of those things that “other people’s” kids did – never mine! It took me a few minutes to focus on why she looked so “different” that day – and I had walked by the pile of hair on the floor next to the purple safety scissors a few times innocently thinking she gave another Barbie a haircut. Her reason was so simple: “my bangs were bugging me”. To add insult to injury, her teachers and friends actually complimented her on her haircut, not knowing she did it herself!

Kids will be kids – and mine are certainly no different. My hairdresser’s comment was “happens all the time – after all, she is only 6.” It’s no different than when a 3 year old is brought to the ER with a Barbie shoe up her nose or a marble in his ear with perplexed parents in tow having the realization that their little angels are actually the same devils as other kids that age. Sure, kids may look and act mature at times but there is one fact of being a kid that we as parents have to accept – that at the end of the day they are still only kids!

If you think about it, whether it’s a bead up the nose or a self-given haircut or an attempt at self ear-piercing, our kids are only doing what they are supposed to do – explore, act on impulse, and try and learn from their mistakes. We see these scenes played out on TV and in the movies time and time again and even with our friend’s children – so we shouldn’t really be too surprised when it happens to any of us. It’s no wonder we find so many of the family-based sitcoms so funny – we’ve all been there and can relate to the stories they tell.

At all ages, we do need to teach our kids responsibility and help our kids learn to accept the consequences when they drop the ball. The trick is remembering that our kids will from time to time drop the ball and are just being kids. What’s going to help theproblem? - e Be more age-appropriate with our expectations.

For example, you can talk to your 3 year old for hours about why marking walls with markers is not a good idea but they just won’t get it – not until they are older. So, put the markers away and supervise more closely next time. Keep in mind, the younger the child the more concrete they are and the more the line between fantasy and reality is blurred.

So, next time your child does something that throws you for a loop, once you peel yourself off the ceiling and take a deep breathe, remind yourself that if it can happen on TV and to friends of yours with kids the same age, it can and will happen to you!

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