Where did the warm fuzzies of parenting go? Don't get me wrong, Gunnar is an undeserved blessing and being his mama is awesome and stuff, but dang I had no idea the terrible twos could be this real! Kids are sponges, they repeat every horrible thing you say. They mimick your finger pointing and voice raising. This must be a sick joke or the greatest lesson I've ever learned. God is using my child to refine and sanctify me!
I'm hoping this too shall pass and I will get my Gunny back. I pray that all the attempts at consistency, discipline, love, and encouragement will pay off and God will reward us with the perfect human specimen. But, just in case that doesn't happen I will keep this picture close by. To remind myself of the joy of babies before the human rebellion takes them over and the imperfections in me get passed down.
Oh Lord, my God. Give me the patience and the grace to see You in my child. To love him with the grace and mercy of Christ. To see the ugliness in myself and desire to be pure like Christ. To inspire in my children love and kindness. To not get angry and rule with an iron fist, but to teach through love.
Deep breaths, mamas. Deep breaths.
oh, how i am with you. kevan and i always laugh about the sheet our pediatrician gave us at merit's 2 year check-up. it ended with something to the effect of "don't worry, you'll have your sweet child back when they are four." what?! not encouraging, i know, BUT know that, although maybe not as eloquently, i felt like i could have written this post! love you, friend!
ReplyDeleteI, too, feel at a loss sometimes on how to best parent my child without crushing his spirit. At least a dozen times a day I think to myself, "I don't know if my discipline is even effective." It is so hard. Matt came home at lunch today and he had to talk to Jake about how we do not hit or push our friends and how we don't talk back.
ReplyDeleteSharon's comment is encouraging. So, if I'm supposed to have my sweet child back by 4, then I only have 2 months to go. I'm going to hope for that, but I'm feeling somewhat doubtful at this point. ;0
Hang in there, friend. Pray over those boys and keep at it. They will grow into Godly men. They will.
Hi there :)
ReplyDeleteI found your blog from Milam posting it on twitter. (My husband and I met him with Davey when they were going through our town from Cornerstone & we had lunch, We know Davey & Jenn because of Eden--hopefully that helps explain!) Oh, and I guess I also met your sister Danielle, your niece & nephew & parents last weekend. Small world!
Anyway, all of this to say: I can completely relate! Our little Cash is 2 as well and we are going through a lot of changes...It is hard to keep your cool when they are being so darn sassy! And we are in the middle of potty training which somehow always helps me lose my patience. Eeep. I repeat to myself and to my husband, "he's just two! he's just two!" haha. And even though he can't completely understand them, I hope our night time prayers somehow creep into his little heart. I am always sure to pray for a good listener with a happy heart & that he will forget the word "mine."