Ever known someone who insisted on doing the very thing that irritates you the most? Maybe he called you by a nickname you hated or she always teased you about the way you pronounced a certain word. You may love the person, but whenever you were around them you kept waiting for them to push your buttons in some way to get a reaction from you. Even now, thinking about it makes you cringe just a little.
Unfortunately, a lot of parents become experts at pushing their child’s buttons. I’m not talking about verbal abuse (which goes way beyond button pushing), but rather doing something on purpose, even though you know it will irritate your child. I know most of you immediately thought about the ever popular singing and dancing ban placed on all parents. If it were up to most children, parents would be banned from all singing and dancing after giving birth. Sometimes though, a mom has just got to sing, and that’s okay.
What I want parents to reconsider is the button pushing that isn’t necessary for your child or you. For example, bringing up topics in front of your child’s friends which he would prefer to discuss privately. Or loudly reminding him to wear his gloves in front of his football teammates. Or revealing information to your child’s friends she would rather they didn’t know. Or pointing out to every friend and relative he’s started shaving or she’s gotten her first period.