parenting thoughts

I had a very introspective chat about parenting last night with a friend who's expecting her first baby, and it has me thinking. Mostly about the issue I brought up below: the similarities between my "adult" behavior and my 3-year-old's.

I remember thinking way back when Grey was a baby and having trouble sleeping through the night that it was hard not to understand the problem, since I'm not exactly the healthiest sleeper, either. If I have nights when I toss and turn and can't fall asleep, or when I wake up several times, how can I not expect him to? (Especially since, as he gets older, it's becoming ever more clear that he got my sleep habits. He lies awake for a good hour before falling asleep, and spends most of the night rolling around and shifting positions.)

I think it's easy to get caught up in the expectation of good behavior in little kids, expecting them to follow the rules and never complain about them (certainly never whine!). But the more I think about my own reactions in some instances, the more I hope I'm developing understanding of his behaviors. If I like things the way I like them, why shouldn't he? I've been known to throw tantrums because something was done by someone else that I didn't like ... so I should be able to put myself in his place when he has one, shouldn't I?

I'm trying to remember these things in our daily lives together, and simultaneously trying to expect more from myself and put myself in his shoes more often. I'm hoping I can develop more patience—which has never been my long suit!