It started when I picked out a shirt that I thought perfect for the day of preschool. The shirt was not to cubs liking. The cub expressed this by throwing it across the room. Then I picked out a breakfast for the cub...it was not to his liking either. Then I brushed the cubs hair...it appears the cub prefers NO ONE, especially me, touch his hair. Each of these events was punctuated by the cub's loud screams while he rolled around on his back on the floor. I literally sweated through my clothes trying to get him ready. I raised my voice to a yell so that the cub could hear me over his roars. By the time we got to the church (Where little cub attends pre-school) we had pulled the car over three times...so I could make sure the cub was getting enough air between screams...He was. (The cub was also issued some ultimatums during said time on the side of the road.) Once also to call the cub's father and ask him for wisdom....unfortunately the cub's father was unavailable. After dropping the cub off at school a full 30 minutes late, I walked slowly back to my car, tears falling, begging the Lord for wisdom...confessing to Him yet again I have no clue what I am doing when it comes to parenting. I thought about my bear all day long...praying he was having a better day...asking the Lord to give us a breakthrough.
This afternoon we talked about this morning...about acceptable behavior and unacceptable....My precious bear told me he understood everything. He told me he loves me and he is sorry...then with his sweet smiling face he said, "I don't like acting like that so tomorrow let's make sure you don't touch my hair."
Sometimes life is full of wrestling...Thank goodness today it was with a really cute Bear.
10 comments:
Beck...some of the best encouragement I have to give is that after you have more that one child you start evaluating by a different method...2 out of 3 is really pretty good! If I ever scored 100% after KJ sister arrived I don't remember it! As long as their was just one to please, I could usually do it. But as #2,3&4
were added to the clan, if two of you were happy with the supper I prepared(or clothers I picked out)
that was good, if 3 of you were it was amazing...if all 4 of you were equally pleased I rejoiced deep in my parental spirit, enjoyed the moment and realized I had been given a great gift that if I received it every dayI probably would not have even realized the blessing!!! Stand strong, wonderful mother! You are raising a mighty warrior that is going to bless,encourage and lead his generation!
I love your bears!
Aunt Kelly Bear
Hi Becky, This truly takes me back! Barry tells all the time of when I cried myself to sleep when my oldest was a 4th grader: "I am a terrible parent" and I prayed often, "Lord, if I have not done everything wrong, I need just a LITTLE encouragement. The encouragement is still coming, praise God. Hang in there; I just LOVE reading your adventures with this group, and I LOVE your spirit!
I can so relate to your little bear battle. We have a restless and feisty little one in our house too, with a STRONG opinion on what to wear and how her hair should be fixed. She may even hold her own with Benj. when it comes to the pickiest eater award. I have cried on more than one occasion after dropping her off at school on a rough morning. Thanks for being so real, and for sharing your stories. It helps me to know that you're going through it too, so I don't beat myself up for being a terrible parent. Parenting is not for the weak of heart. I am learning that more and more! But it is also unendingly rewarding. Love our little bears!
By the way, that was Summer not Chad who wrote the comment above. Oops.
Becky, you have that little cub because God knew he would need you, so you stay with it so he will be shaped into the strong and tender saint God plans for him to be. You can do it, Girl, because God is shaping you too as you experience/endure every test. Also, the rest of us are blessed when you share your experience, so thanks for being willing to do that. Sure do love those Brookses!!
Love it...thank you!
All of the wisdom has been shared. (Pretend I said it all). Beautiful story, even though it may not have seemed beautiful to you. Devoted Mother trying to help her "cub" have the best day ever. Thanks for posting again. May God's blessings continue to fall on you and yours, my darling girl.
Thanks for sharing Becky because we had a rough morning too. At our house, the hair was fine, but I took a different route to school than Papa Bear (imagine, the nerve!)...let his nervous breakdown commence. The sad part was that as we chatted about how there is not always ONE right way to do things, I realized how often I get bent out of shape over someone not doing it "Mom's way". Ah, the humility! "Grrrrr," said Mama Bear.
Aww...Benj! I agree with your mom...with 3, you are already short a hand. If 2 out of 3 are safely occupied, that's half the battle. I certainly understand the tears, though. I can remember sitting in the front seat of the car, pulled over on the side of the road, wondering why #2 would not stop throwing a fit. No cell phones then, so I just pulled over. After a few minutes, I pulled myself together and headed home. Later, when Em and I were discussing the "episode" and I reminded her that it was so serious that I had to pull over, she said "Mommy, it's okay...you'll do better next time". Out of the mouths of babes. You, by the way, are doing a wonderful job!!!
Hugs!
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