Thoughts on Turning 2

Excuse the "rambling"....this was written late last night!

It's HARD to turn 2 years old!!!  Our "baby" turned 2 yesterday, and he spent most of today crying!  He had a special day yesterday, but today the "terrible" part of the "terrible 2s" was a reality!  He did not like that I needed to go to the church and work for about an hour and half on our church's Children's Ministry program this morning.  Then, he was over-tired and didn't want to eat lunch, and so he cried and refused to eat.  Therefore, I put him to bed....what he wanted...."I go night night now peez!"  He kept complaining of a "bug in my ear" (which my family is "blessed" with ear, nose, and throat "drama"....between my 3 children, we've had 5 sets of tubes and baby boy was 7 months old when he received his!) and wouldn't go to sleep.  He screamed his head off.  I rocked, sang, read and gave motrin, and he finally went to sleep!  Thankfully, my husband's schedule allowed him to come home and work while I ran our oldest two to the dentist.  Then, the afternoon "craziness" began when we arrived home with fall baseball practice, homework, supper to cook, baths, bedtime routine, dirty dishes, laundry, etc....You get the point!  However, Mr. Boy cried for about 2 of those hours until we were finally able to get him in bed at 8:15!  One of our oldest son's vocabulary words this week is "tranquil."  He rightly made the sentence, "It's only tranquil in our house when everyone is asleep!"  SO VERY TRUE!  (Side note:  I was able to get his ears checked, and he doesn't have an ear infection....he's cutting his last 2 year molar, and I think it's causing residual pain in his ears).

All the children are now asleep.  There are piles of unfolded clothes on my couch.  My hubby is still working/preparing for a class he's teaching, and instead of going to bed (and still ignoring the laundry), I'm sitting at the computer typing, too!  Very wise use of my time!   The point of my post is that I survived the hectic day and really my feathers only got ruffled when I was almost late to the dentist appointment.....not because my 2 year old screamed all day or pitched a fit or almost turned his chair over backward (he's in a booster seat in our dining room chair) at the dinner table.  This is a HUGE accomplishment for me!  When our oldest was 2, I stressed about EVERY little thing.  (If you read my "About Me" section you saw that I'm a Type A PERFECTionist, so "stressing" is what I do best! ha!) Mind you, oldest Mr. Boy started his "fits" around 20 months old!  And, everything was magnified with the fact that I was very sick from pregnancy with our daughter.  We had just moved to our current location, and I was so stressed about making a good impression, stressed about making sure that oldest Mr. Boy wasn't labeled a typical "Preacher's Kids," (and he's red-headed to add to the "attitude"!), stressed about what people thought of my parenting/lack of parenting "skills", and just stressed in general that it's an absolute wonder that oldest Mr. Boy seems to be a normal, healthy functioning 7 year old and not on medication for ulcers and OCD!!!  Looking back, I know that there were many times that I "over-disciplined" if you will because I simply forgot that oldest Mr. Boy was 2 years old and not 20 or 12!!  Yes, it's vital to discipline and to correct and yes even to SPANK....I said it and yes, we spank....on the bottom....done in love and not anger.....but it's also vital to remember that God created these beautiful little people and gave them their "spirited" personalities.  I love James Dobson's book The Strong Willed Child because it deals with "molding/shaping" the will rather than "breaking" the will.  And, believe me, I have 3 strong willed children!  Passive is NOT in our vocabulary in this house!  ha!   

I know I've got a long way to go with this parenting thing!  ha!  Many of you seasoned moms are probably thinking "Oh My, this poor girl....little does she know! Wait until preteen/teenage years arrive!"  Yes, I know we have many more seasons of parenting to look forward to, but I also know that as believers our roles are to model Christ, teach Christ, be teachable from Christ's truths through His word, and pray for wisdom, seek to be consistent, loving, and firm in molding/shaping our children, and most importantly instilling Biblical truths in their little hearts about who God is and why He loves us and why He gave them to us to shepherd/parent for a "season" and why His heart "hurts" when they disobey and act ugly and throw fits and why His heart "hurts" when I as their mommy disobey Him, act ugly toward my family, and throw fits as well.  I've found it's so easy to discipline my children and get so frustrated.  I often find myself saying "if it's not immediate it's disobedient" and getting upset over the lack of immediate obedience, and then God gently whisphers in my ear.....are you immediate in your obedience to me?  How often do I as your Heavnly Father have to repeat truths over and over and over?  How often do I show you grace and mercy?  Yes, there are consequences to disobedience, and children must learn that and know that.  However, we as parents need to be reminded of that truth as well....or I know I do! 

So, as I wrap up this 2nd long post in a row, I'm praying for continued wisdom in parenting, especially as I embark on this season of "terrible 2s" with my little man!  May I shower him with love, grace, mercy, firmness when needed, correction/discipline, and a swat with "Mr. Pop" when it's out of control!

Side note from today, Tuesday, September 10:  I stopped by Lifeway this morning on my way home from another appointment and purchased the book Shepherding A Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp.  I've heard great things about the book and have had several people ask me if I've read it, and my sister-in-law is helping co-lead it at her church.  So, I thought it was time for me to read it!  And just let me say, there are TONS of books on parenting as you all probably know.  While standing in Lifeway taking some time to glance through several others I had not read, the thought struck me...."What did people do before all of these 'guides' to parenting were written?  How did any person turn out to be a "normal," godly man or woman without his/her parents reading these books/thoughts/wisdom/"how to" on parenting?  The answer:  By being a student of The Bible!  I know.... "Sunday  School" answer! ha! But, it's true!  Now don't get me wrong, I believe that books and studies are great resources to use and that there is much wisdom to be gained and learned from wonderful, godly men and women who have walked the parenting path and raised great men and women of God.  It's Biblical ---mentoring.  However, we have to glean truths that are Biblical and remember that the only "PERFECT" way to parent is in the center of the will of God!  And, that my friends, is a daily, step by step, moment by moment, "give it all to the Lord" process!