We all have a tipping point, usually in multiple categories of our lives, where we’ve had enough of something…probably our own behavior/reactions/responses…you name it for you, and we’re ready for some change.
One of my memorable tipping points was when my kids were small (all 4 under 10 yr old) and we were getting ready to bring number 5 into the world. I hate to admit it, but I had raised my voice tooo many times with the older 4 when I’d get exasperated as they ‘refused to cooperate with me’. I came to the conclusion my yelling at them was causing them to yell at each other and I wasn’t going to have the yelling continue on where we’d be a yelling family of 5. I didn’t want her to hear us yelling and didn’t want us then yelling at her as she grew up.
I was at the tipping point. That was it, I’d had it, the kids had had it and we weren’t going to participate in it any longer. The quality decision was made, I talked it over at supper with the kids that we’d no longer be yelling at each other and we weren’t going to be yelling at the new baby as she grew up, and I apologized to them for all my yelling.
Did I want my kids growing up and remembering all the times their mother had yelled at them??? It scared me. Change had to come and I had to start it.
So we had the little dinner time chat about yelling and let the kids know mom wasn’t going to be yelling at them any more and if she did slip up, they were free to call me on it, and I would apologize…and I did…many times, but the wheels were turning.
We were serious about licking that problem, it did take some time, but we licked it finally, not to say we never had relapses.
Fortunately it stuck and the kids didn’t become yellers either.
What has been a tipping point in your life? Are you approaching one now?
Mrs. Goodfinder 