Having recently spent spring break with my 6-year-old grandson, I was struck by how often, we tell our younger children to quiet down, turn down the noise or go to another room. It is an appropriate reaction to the constant noise and activity of a young person who frequently likes to do all his tasks–playing, using electronics, or exploring his world– very close and very loud to wherever we are.
It seems that this lesson finally sinks in by the time the child is a teenager. One of the most frequent complaints I hear from parents is that their teenager just stays in her room—doesn’t interact or spend time with the family. Patterns that we learn when we are young stay with us in subtle ways.
Think of that fact the next time your young child is driving you nuts. Embrace the chaos.
Embrace the Chaos
