How to Stop Whining

I have a confession to make. I am a whiner! Yes, I whine. Mostly about the weather, “I’m cold,” “I hate the snow” and “My word when is it going to warm up.” All right, I whine about the rain too. Admitting faults is not easy. I’m breaking the cycle. NOW!

Whining is a childish behavior and one most children grow out of. Apparently, I never grew out of it. I whine to my hubs, my parents, my friends, to the other preschool moms, my hairdresser, and to the check out clerks at Target. I whine to anyone, and everyone that listens or anyone who talks about the weather.

When I hear my child whining, I hate hearing it. Little Dude will whine about getting dress, putting his shoes on, and sitting down at the table when it’s time to eat. He’ll whine about not wanting to go to sleep or the outfit I picked out for him. It’s like hearing nails on the chalkboard and it drives me crazy.

One thing, I never realized about myself was that I was such a whiner. Until the one day, I heard my child repeated me. “Mommy why is it snowing again?” “I hate the snow.” “Really again?”, Complete with sigh and dropping his head. I apparently modeled that exact response and body language.

A light bulb went off in my head. I’m the reason why my child whines. He hears me whine, and he follows my terrible example; my not so great whining behavior example I’m setting for him.

Let’s face it, our kids follow us; they mimic our behavior. Both bad behavior and good behavior. What we do, what we say, our body language, and how we react to something. Our kids mimic the bad words we say, and they model the good ones too. Our kids are always watching, even when we don’t think they are.

I never realized how terrible I sounded. I am a grown whinny adult. Seriously! That is awful. Thank goodness I have come to learn this about myself so I can spare people the sound of it. I have reverted to a whining toddler. However, it stops now. I’m stopping myself and turning over a new leaf to only communicate positively in the presents of my child.

I’m hoping if I stop whining and communicate positively. Then in time, my Little Dude will model my appropriate communication and stop whining. The sun has also come out again, and there is no reason I have to whine about the weather.

5 Ways to Stop your Children`s Whining

1. Complaining is whinny. Stop complaining. Stop whinny in front of your kids.
2. Reverse the negative. Be positive. Say positive things in front of your kids.
3. Stop the sound effects (sighs, shrugs, eye rolling).
4. Model the communication & behavior you want from your kids.
5. Reinforce the proper communication by praising your child for communicating appropriately.

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