Thursday night as I was driving to my DSAMT board meeting, I realized it was the first time in a long time that I was in a car, by myself, with no one asking to watch cartoons in the back seat! YAY! So, I put in my new Moi CD (Thanks Lori-Lynn!) and spent some time with my thoughts. (Scary, I know.)
I got to thinking about Kassidy and some struggles we've been having lately. Don't get me wrong, Kassidy is AMAZING, but lately I find myself losing my patience with her more often than I would like. I have this horrible character flaw that when I ask one of my kids to DO something, I want it DONE... right away. For example, I could say, "Kassidy, go put your clothes away in your drawers." And Kassidy will wander around, pick up her shoes or her backpack or do something else first. And it drives me CRAZY! And I'll say, "KASSIDY! What did I JUST tell you to do?!" She will look at me and say, "I was going to... I'm just going to do this first." It just doesn't fly with me. I get mad - she gets sad - and we're both unhappy. *sigh*
So I was thinking about this tonight and trying to figure out a solution to this ongoing problem when I felt God tap me on the shoulder. He said, "Seriously Renee, I know this frustrates you, but what about when I ask you to do something? Do you always do it right away?" No. I don't. I can come up with EVERY excuse in the book. "OK God, I will. But first I'm going to do this." And I'm sure He's standing there shaking His head at me saying, "Renee, what did I JUST tell you to do?!" For some reason, my priorities are always more important than His, and just like Kassidy, I think, "Well I was going to do it... eventually."
So as I drove down the 65 Freeway I prayed (with my eyes open of course) and asked for forgiveness... forgiveness for not always answering God's call and forgiveness for losing my patience with Kassidy for the very thing I am guilty of. And later I will talk to Kassidy again and we'll figure out a way for both of us to be better listeners. Life is full of lessons, and I'm thankful this was one I didn't miss.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
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16 comments:
Hey Renee~
I just bought a new book to try on my two little ones by Kevin Leman. So far it looks promising....
Have a New Kid by Friday
http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=kevin+leman&tag=googhydr-20&index=stripbooks&hvadid=1155050201&ref=pd_sl_2c2xsdhd29_e
Hugs!!
Oh goodness I so don't know how that link got all funky....sorry
Life is full of lessons, big and small. It takes an especially good mom, like you, to recognize those moments! *hug*
I nominated you for an award on my blog!
Love, Sarah
I needed to hear that today. I forget sometimes that the girls are old enough to be reasoned with and to share life with. That's awesome how you open up your relationship with God for her to see!
I have the same thing going on at my house. I read a book by Lisa Whelchel called "Creative Correction" (yes, the gal from The Facts of Life). She says she taught her kids to do stuff right away by occasionally asking them to get their shoes or something like that and then if they do it they all go get ice cream. Sounds good to me!
{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}
Great words REnee! Thanks for sharing and for making me think about it too!
I've walked those shoes, we have 1st time obedience at our house. All of our kids know this from an early age, not that they always choose to do it. But because that's a big rule, then we can enforce it easier when it happens...and it still does happen on occasion. When I read this it made me think of a sermon I heard not long ago...if something drives you nuts about someone a large part of the time it's a fault that you have also. It made me think and since hearing that when I'm picking somethng apart, I say yes I do the same thing...UGH...I don't like to admit that. So, funny you see you do what Kassidy does, well in some ways. I think what drives me crazy is when my kids do something and I know they got it from ME! I've got more faults than I could ever fix...praise God for His grace. Now to get down from my soap box and off my mini sermon. In a nut shell I needed your post today as a reminder, thanks! Your a great mom!
I'd like to say it's an age thing, but BOTH my kids are like this at the moment. I'm hoping once school starts and they're on a schedule again, it will get better, lol.
Seriously, you bring up some good points. I know I am guilty of not listening when God asks me to do something too. Thanks for the reminder!
What a great lesson. I have found that I too am short with Natalie and I believe it's because she is soooo much like me. So I see her doing the things that I do that I don't like that I do and it just drives me bonkers. It's nice to realize when there is a problem. Hopefully you can find a solution. I have to say I too can't stand when I have to repeat myself to the kids about putting their stuff away. My problem is that I know if they don't do it right then and there it's not going to get done. Then I have to tell them to do it again and it's a never ending cycle. Hmmm, this got me thinking. Maybe this would work for both of us. What if we made a list of all the things we expect the kids to do on a daily basis (ie brush their teeth, wash their face, pick up their toys, put their clothes away correctly) and then just let them do it. Then at the end of the night if we went over the list together to make sure everything was done and whatever wasn't done we could set a timer for 15 minutes and they could get it done. Just a thought.
Very thought provoking. Thanks.
What I have started doing with my girls (9 1/2 and 7 1/2) is that if they are going to do as requested when requested, they must TELL me what they are doing/completing first, then we can decided if it is OK (usually is).
Janet
Great articulation of a very important reminder. Thanks.
I have had many a moment like that as well, I was just talking to a friend of mine about this very topic..glad others have insightful conversation with the Lord while driving too!
Wow...profound. That's all I can really say. This post really spoke to me. I know exactly where you're at on this one. Kids can be challenging, but I guess they teach us about ourselves too. Thanks for sharing this!
Michelle
Oy, I resemble that too much...convicting!
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