Chutes and ladders

Do you remember the game of "Chutes and Ladders"?  You roll the dice, move around the board, climbing ladders to take you up toward your goal (winning the game). Occasionally you would land on a chute and your player had to slide back down a few rows, only to have to climb back up again.  

I have decided life is often like the game of "Chutes and Ladders". You teach your children  all the wonderful independent skills they need for good hygiene, nutrition and how care for themselves. You teach them how to engage at school and in social situations without you. You watch as they climb the ladders of life, taking on new challenges without your assistance. You feel so proud. Then suddenly, without any notice, they land on a 'chute' and go sliding back down. You are faced with a child who is now acting 10 years younger than their chronological age. The frustration is great because you know what they are capable of. You feel angry, and disappointed because you have been working on improving these behaviors for years.

But what we must remember is that every slide is a teachable moment. It won't take 10 years for them to get back on track. If you have ever tried to quit smoking or loose weight you know, "chutes" happen. Encourage them with what you know they can accomplish and help them get back on track. Focus on the positive "ladders" they have climbed and try not to dwell on the disappointment of the "chute". In time they will be climbing again, and higher than you thought they could!