I could give you a list of things I have said to my children this month that pretty much "suck". Like when Bitty B screamed all night FOR NO REASON and I told him that I'd take him outside in the cold in the middle of the night and leave him there. And, five minutes later, he freaked out again. So, I walked him outside (gotta follow through) and may have whispered a mix of prayers and cuss words while we sat together on the cold front steps. I did not leave him there, instead I gave him a dose of Benadryl and told him in my fakest "nice voice" that I truly hope that he did not have a tantrum until he puked, because I was shutting my door and would not hear him to come clean him up.
That is just one. One thing that I pretty much did not do "right". Something that left me feeling like I must be failing at this parenthood thing. Then the spiral: why are they whining...why are they still talking back...why can't I potty train him...why are they slamming doors...why can't I make it to the gym...or at least to the shower today....why are other moms able to calmly respond 54 times and I start yelling after the 50th time?!!
But.
But. Then, sometimes you step back and see the whole picture and you pray for just a crumb of encouragement- and get a whole loaf!
I got a phone call from my big kid's principal. She said that my fifth grader was getting a reward and that there would be a luncheon. One student from each our our town's five schools were there. And his teacher and principal stood up front commending him (and us!) for caring about peers, for serving others, for wanting to make a difference and for leadership. Wow. Ok, so the things I've actually wanted for my kid- and the things I stressed that maybe he just wasn't "getting" - he was! And some people took the time to thank me. It isn't often that you feel like you have someone tell you "well done" as a parent. You don't have a boss giving out bonuses and gold stars at the end of the work day (and, of course, the work day never ends.)
Yesterday, I witnessed Love Works--my kids serving in their community-- with pretty much no prompting from me. They rolled up their sleeves (or whatever!) and hopped in to help as a group of friends from our church served at a Community Wellness Fair. B was running around in the grass- giving out smiles right and left (he sometimes doesn't want to share his sweet cuteness!) And, my lovely little girl, was going up to new friends and showing SO MUCH LOVE. She invited a little girl who did not speak English, to come get her face painted. She stayed all day, signing up volunteers, cleaning up, and welcoming each 'stranger' as though they were her long lost BFF's. Then, in the evening she insisted that she must help babysit the little ones, because "that is her ministry" and they needed her Ok, there are many things I think I have not done well as a parent, but if my kids can learn to love, and share, and serve....well, it was a proud moment. And beautiful.
Thankful that my kids' characters are growing- hey, maybe they are listening to some of my lectures and the endless 'time-outs' have actually counted for something.
Motherhood. It's not for the weak. But, oh, it is so worth it! Encourage someone today, okay?!
That is just one. One thing that I pretty much did not do "right". Something that left me feeling like I must be failing at this parenthood thing. Then the spiral: why are they whining...why are they still talking back...why can't I potty train him...why are they slamming doors...why can't I make it to the gym...or at least to the shower today....why are other moms able to calmly respond 54 times and I start yelling after the 50th time?!!
But.
But. Then, sometimes you step back and see the whole picture and you pray for just a crumb of encouragement- and get a whole loaf!
I got a phone call from my big kid's principal. She said that my fifth grader was getting a reward and that there would be a luncheon. One student from each our our town's five schools were there. And his teacher and principal stood up front commending him (and us!) for caring about peers, for serving others, for wanting to make a difference and for leadership. Wow. Ok, so the things I've actually wanted for my kid- and the things I stressed that maybe he just wasn't "getting" - he was! And some people took the time to thank me. It isn't often that you feel like you have someone tell you "well done" as a parent. You don't have a boss giving out bonuses and gold stars at the end of the work day (and, of course, the work day never ends.)
Yesterday, I witnessed Love Works--my kids serving in their community-- with pretty much no prompting from me. They rolled up their sleeves (or whatever!) and hopped in to help as a group of friends from our church served at a Community Wellness Fair. B was running around in the grass- giving out smiles right and left (he sometimes doesn't want to share his sweet cuteness!) And, my lovely little girl, was going up to new friends and showing SO MUCH LOVE. She invited a little girl who did not speak English, to come get her face painted. She stayed all day, signing up volunteers, cleaning up, and welcoming each 'stranger' as though they were her long lost BFF's. Then, in the evening she insisted that she must help babysit the little ones, because "that is her ministry" and they needed her Ok, there are many things I think I have not done well as a parent, but if my kids can learn to love, and share, and serve....well, it was a proud moment. And beautiful.
Thankful that my kids' characters are growing- hey, maybe they are listening to some of my lectures and the endless 'time-outs' have actually counted for something.
Motherhood. It's not for the weak. But, oh, it is so worth it! Encourage someone today, okay?!