Handbook

Sometimes I wish that when you had a kid the hospital gave you a parenting handbook with answers to every and any problem that occur while raising kids. I mean how nice would it be to flip to chapter 3, find your solution, and move on with your day. And I know everyone is probably thinking...oh there are so many books about parenting...and I get that, but those do not always have to answers. And sometimes, well most of the time, I feel like the answers are something we have to figure out within ourselves.
Everyone is different in the way that they parent and I think every mom goes through days where they wonder if they are a good mother. Or if they are making the right decisions. Or how they are ever going to survive the day(we have all had bad days) :)
There are times that I will yell at one of the boys for something and instantly feel bad that I did that.There are times when I will take something away from one of the kids as a punishment and they cry and I feel so horrible because of the look on their face. Or times I put them in timeout for doing something and they are so upset and just keep saying they are sorry and will listen. Those are the moments when I really feel like I am not a good mom. But I also know that I am not being too mean, I am doing what is best. I know and my kids know that if they are misbehaving there will be consequences. They know that they will get a warning or 2 and then they will be punished if the dont start behaving.Its normal...right???
I do not want to be too hard on the kids and I do let a lot slide...as anyone I am a pretty easy-going mom...but sometimes you cant let things slide. Sometimes no matter how much they are crying you have to take the toy and put it up in the closet for the rest of the day. And sometimes you have to seperate the child from everyone and just sit down and have a heart to heart...its just determining which time is best for which one. Its those days that I go to bed feeling like I am a beaten woman.
But then there are days where everyone is in a great mood. Everyone is getting along, and listening, and playing well together. There are lots of laughs, and hugs and kisses, and all around perfect moments. And those are the days I cherish. Those are the days that let me know it does not have to be so hard sometimes.That the choices I have made for myself and my kids are the right choices. That it was worth giving up some things to have the kids and husband that I have. And those are the days I go to bed thinking I am a good mom.
Still sometimes it would be nice to have that handbook. To flip to a page and have someone else solve all my problems for me. If only.....