Choosing Consequences:

My child’s hiding the other day re-taught me a life lesson. For a few weeks he was hanging on the Living room curtains. Every time I saw him doing that I gave him a warning that the railing is going to break, and he is going to get a hiding when that happens. Then one faithful night there was a breeze through my house and the broken rail and curtains came raining down.

I was so calm, I did not give him an immediate hiding. Just expressing my disgust and trying to get my curtains saved first. Then we had a chat and I explained to him that even as an adult, crying and apologizing over my mistakes and disobedience won’t fix the problem. I still must carry the consequences and so unfortunately must he.

Next, we discussed possible consequences. 1. A hiding, 2. No sweets or treats for a week. 3. Adding of a cleaning chore -which if he does not do it properly the sweets or treats gets taken away. I explained to him that the 2nd and 3rd options would mean a prolonged punishment or consequence. He bravely chose the hiding (which I’ll admit I was influencing him into, since I know we will quit the other two options halfway through the week). Then I realized I am teaching myself a lesson too. I can pick the painful consequences of dipping into my savings to fix the rail or I can choose the prolonged seeming less painful way and fix it through debt or credit. Realizing that I have a choice in how the consequences plays out is a very interesting subject. Yes, the immediate consequence solution may appear more painful, but its over quicker.

We should always aim to choose consequences that we can move on from the quickest. There is no point in life to prolong pain and if we adjust our attitudes to yes, it’s going to be painful but quick and remain grateful for the speed in which we can recover from a consequence we will be restored so much easier.

A lot of my choices and in this case my son’s choices (of who I am very proud of at this moment) depends on the attitude in which we accept or reject the outcome of the consequence we must carry. After all, consequences are life’s natural boundaries and is not something anyone is excluded from, no matter who we are or where we find ourselves.

I’m going to adjust my attitude towards consequences into one that is brave, courageous and aims to move on after taking responsibility as quickly and neatly as possible.

Keep Improving

The Ameliorate Team

#Consequences; #Boundaries; #Prolongedpain; #Attitude; #SelfDevelopment