Training our Children Starts with Training Ourselves

As some of you may know by some of my other posts, I am working on child training. I wish I could tell you it has been going great, but it has not been going as well I as would have liked it to go.
I can tell you that it did go well when I was consistent. My chilren were remembering to put their dishes away and they were getting to the point that they were putting them away without my having to remind them. Sounds good, right? So, what happened, you may be wondering?
I have to admit that it was my fault. I backed off right when I should have been making sure we crossed that threshhold. I know that it is the consistency that makes this work, yet, I was not consistent. I am really seeing that just as much as the children need to be trained in their habits, so do we adults.
If we want our children to be consistent, we have to be consistent. If we want our children to be respectful, we have to be respectful. If we want our children to be cheerful and helpful, we need to do the same.
I am sure you get the point.
I am learning that my children's behavior reflects my behavior.
Take a look at your behavior and see if you see any in your children.
Do you see impatiance, anger, frustration, etc. in your children? Perhaps they have learned it from you.
OUCH! I know, I know. It is humbling and a little hard to swallow, that you may be the cause of some of the things you detest in your children.
Even if you do not exhibit these behaviors, are you consistent in your dicipline? Do you allow your children to get away with behaviors that you do not approve of? If so, you are still responsible. I know it is hard to hear, trust me, but as much as I would like to blame it on the children for not being obedient, for not minding as they have been told, for not getting along with their siblings, I have to realize that if I had taken the time to properly train or not have allowed a behavior to develop, I would not be where I am today.
So, this month being the "LOVE" month, I have decided to take this month and "TRAIN" myself and the children.
I will have to learn to be just as consistent as I want them to be.
I am really seeing a spirit of rebellion budding it's ugly head in my children. In my five yar old, he still really wants to do right, but he lacks self control. In my 12 year old there is also a spirit of pride really taking hold. I am lacking the self control to make myself be consistent and not let my anger and frustration get the best of me. Iknow that my issues actually outweigh theirs and that I should be more worried about my own before I can attempt to solve theirs.So, I will be working heavily on mine as well.
I urge you to also take a good look at what is going on in your home and see if there are any changes that need to be made. Perhaps you can take this "LOVE" month to incorporate more love into your home as well.
God Bless You and Your Family.