Expectations · The Emotionally Whole Family

Expectations

One factor in generating every emotion in us is our expectations.

And parents often generate a lot of unnecessary emotions, simply due to having unrealistic expectations.

Expectations of our kids that aren’t realistic, end up giving us emotions, usually anger. Sometimes we are generating anger at something we wouldn’t need to if we could evaluate our expectations adjust them to be more realistic.

Example:

If I have the expectation that my kids should obey perfectly every time because I’m their parent, I will feel frustrated or angry when they don’t.

If I adjust that expectation to be that my kids aren’t going to obey perfectly every time just because I’m their parent, because they are kids, and they are learning, and I’m here to help them learn and grow, and they are here to help me learn and grow, I won’t get so frustrated when they meet that expectation.

I can adjust it so I’m not surprised by disobedience and now see it as opportunity for me to grow in my communication, my patience, my discipline (not punishment), and to help them grow as well.

If I adjust it to this, and see it as opportunity not a threat, and will generate less frustration simply because they are meeting my expectation and inviting me to grow and help them grow.

11 comments