I Should Know Better

I am very verbal about telling people my age and my experience with children. Since I don’t look my age and I have a ton of kid experience, I have no problem letting people know that about me. Sometimes though, I should just keep my mouth shut to avoid any embarrassing situations…

Aiden has been acting out and becoming “that” kid that no one wants their kid to be around. He pushes and yells at other kids, throws and takes toys away and cries when he doesn’t get his way. I was originally attributing this to toddlerhood and the fact that he is home with me all the time and doesn’t have the social experience that some of his friends have. At least that’s what I kept telling myself.

I have been racking my experienced brain to try and figure out how to modify his behavior. Mind you, I am feeling much better with the pregnancy now that I am 6 months pregnant so I am trying to give him more of my attention. I was hoping that his behavior was about the impending baby and the lack of attention from me. With tons of brainstorming, book reading and discussions with many moms, I realized that it is a result of my behavior from the pregnancy, but has nothing to do with the new baby (yet).

It has finally dawned on me why he is behaving in a not-so-nice manner: Disney movies. Right around the time I became pregnant, Aiden stopped taking naps and I started needing them. At first he would play in his room while I napped, as I was never feeling well the first 3-4 months. This didn’t last long and I decided that a Disney movie would be the perfect solution to keep him occupied while I napped. Seemed like a harmless solution, or so I thought. I am realizing now that after 5-6 months of watching the same movies everyday, Aiden has picked up on the pushing and meanness that some of the characters portray. Mulan is about a war (lots of fighting), Baloo teaches Mowgli how to fight in The Jungle Book and there are countless other examples in these movies that he has picked up on.

Being a former preschool teacher, I should have known better. I am familiar with the effect that tv and movies have on kids, so how is it that I completely missed it with my own child. Fortunately I am able to possibly reverse this effect by altering the type of programs he watches while I get the much needed rest required to allow this new baby to grow. Some of my mom friends have said on occasion they think of me as a super mom and I am so sorry have to give up that title because I should have known better.

2 comments April 7th, 2008