A few months back I noticed my kids saying this to me any time I was being a "Mom". If I was telling them to do something like pick up or stop doing that I would get the response "Stop being mean to me." Or "Your being mean Mom!" I found myself frustrated because I was starting to feel like a mean mommy. I am not sure which child it was that started this lovely phrase but I was not sure how to stop it. I was trying to explain to them that I am not being mean but that the choices they are making are causing me to have to tell them how they should be acting.
I have chosen to learn from my children even though I swear the majority of the time I was not being mean simply requesting something be done. I have realized how important it is to speak kindly to my children. So, in the past few weeks I have tried to speak softer, use please and thank you more and to tell my kids when they are doing something RIGHT instead of always pointing out when they are doing something WRONG. And behold it stopped I have not heard them say "You are being mean to me." for awhile now and trust me I am still being a "Mom" and asking them to do plenty that they don't want to do. So....was a really being mean? Some of time I am sure the phrase was warranted (I am only human.) but I am so happy that I have learned a very valuable lesson for some very smart Kids. Thanks Seth and Syd for helping your Mommy become at better Me. I Love You!
Found this old picture... I miss those two.....they are getting so BIG!