Usually I am pretty assertive. Just last week, on two separate occasions, I made it clear to a university employee that I expected problems with my son's student portal to be handled (my son's efforts had been unsuccessful and the clock was ticking) and told a store manager that if he felt a need to dress down his employees, he should do it out of earshot of customers. In both situations, I was polite but firm. I'm good at that -- except when it comes to my kids. In that case, I'm a big bowl of jelly.
Yesterday I was given a book, on loan, about exactly this problem. It's called Conscious Parenting and I really think I need it now more than ever. I was never like this when my kids were younger, and I think my doormat issue is related to my larger issue of overworrying about my kids (and everyone else). I should add that it isn't anything my sons are doing; it is me jumping in to (s)mother them more than I need to. I haven't started the book yet, but I hope to get to it this weekend. I should be focusing more on my own life than on theirs. The alternative isn't healthy for any of us.
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