My family consists of 4 members:

B, my husband, is 43 years old and is an employee;

D, my eldest son, is 6 years old and will start primary school next September.

A, my youngest daughter, currently in pre-school, is 4 years old.

And me; I’m Mara and I’m 40 years old and work as a computer consultant. (maybe better to say IT consultant) 

As in any family there are ups and downs. Before having part-time help in my home it was very chaotic and confusing. My husband and I made mistakes in how we were raising our family. 

D is the one who gives me more problems because he is often jealous of his sister. I'm very strict with him and I  am afraid of overdoing it with him. 

A eats only a few kinds of foods so meals become a fight because I refuse to cook other foods. I don’t know if it is her age but she is very lazy.

My husband is good around the house and he loves our children very much but he is less patient than I. I would like him to take over from me when I 'm too tired to fight with our children but often he makes things worse.

To improve the situation, last year I decided to attend a course on parenting.

This is the second year we have attended the parenting course and our family life  has improved. 

We have made the biggest changes ourselves (my husband and I):

• Before scolding them we try to understand their motives and to talk with them.

• We demand only behavior related their age. At first we didn’t know about the phases of the age.

• When they throw a tantrum we let them eat vent their frustration and then we explain the reasons.

• We try to point out their good behaviors not those the negative ones.

• I read more books about the argument subject.

I hope all my diligence will be rewarded. I would want that my children be happy and conscientious. I would like that they find a good job and create a beautiful family. I would want that they would satisfied. After all I don’t ask for anything strange unreasonable.

Often I ask  myself how my life would have been if I hadn’t had a family

I  would have taken  decisions alone instead of now where I have somebody that helps me to take them.

No more solitude, no more privacy

The  kids make me proud and satisfied, but they are demanding.

Rhythms and priorities change. No more gym, no more hanging out with my buddies. The amount of work increases but when the results are good you are really satisfied

With ones family one writes the future but it’s a heavy responsibility

Hi Mara, well done. This was quite a complex topic but was well written and your points were very clearly made. Most of the corrections are to make it sound more natural.