learning to laugh

Sometimes, it's so easy to be frustrated as a parent.We have house chores, work, bill to pay, responsibilities and to do lists where you can't even see the end. It seems that the weight of the world is on your shoulders. We want to do the best of our children, we want to be the best for our children and we want to teach them about the world around them and how to interact with it. But sometimes we forget that they are their own unique individuals who want to experience things also, even if we don't approve of it. I notice that my daughter is very attracted to some behavior that we don't approve of. She will observe these children in the playground, at the day care, in the streets and will try to imitate them. I guess, I shouldn't say try, she does. If I try to stop it, things get worse and more frustrated. So I learned to allow her to have her experience while I can simply BE and DO what feels good to me. The beauty of it is that because she has permission to experience a new energy, a new behavior, she doesn't get stuck on it for too long. She gets back to being herself and she moves on to a new adventure.
Children don't learn by listening or us telling them to what to do, they learn my watching us, by imitating. I can't expect my daughter to behave certain way if I am not acting according to what I preach. I learned not to place expectations upon her but simply show her social rules of engagement by acting. Frustrations fade away because as a mother I am simply BEING not EXPECTING. I am being in charge and showing her by my own behavior. The miracle happens. She response with joy and enthusiasm and we create a healthy, happy environment to grow, to change and to experience.
Just like my 3 year says "Don't worry mommy, just smile and laugh"