The past week has been spring break at the circus and while it is technically true, we did break from our studies, other than that, it was a jam packed, super busy week.
It is now Monday… school resumes tomorrow, and today I am trying to catch up on laundry and dishes and cleaning… right now, we’re back from gymnastics and the kids are down for quiet time. I am thankful for an iced coffee and the fact that it is warm enough for a skirt and flip flops…oh how I love warm sunny days!
Before having kids I watched/read excerpts from Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Ted Tripp. The premise that you need to do more than just manage behavior, but get to the heart of what is causing our child’s behavior, made a lot of sense to both Scott and I. And through the years I think we have tried to apply this approach to our parenting. But, there is something very different about reading a book before having kids and reading one with both feet in the trenches.
Lately I have found myself biting back tears and praying for wisdom as I work with my daughter on obedience and respect. These battles leave me tired and stretched and yearning for some chocolate chip cookie dough and a bottle of coca cola classic.
One battle area for us has been over her having to wear her eye patch. Seems the novelty has faded and she really doesn’t like wearing it.
“Momma, don’t we look beautiful?”
As I praised them for their lovely fashion choices and snapped picture upon picture of their dress up fun, it dawned on me that this was an opportunity to reinforce what true beauty is. Ya know, I said. To be truly beautiful, you have to be kind and loving to others. In fact, you can be wearing the prettiest dress ever, but if you act mean and unkind to others, you aren’t beautiful.
Container of dish soap: $2.00
Chip in my favorite coffee mug: $10.00
Keeping 2 sisters happy and entertained for an hour: Priceless
Look at those chubby hands stuffing his face
I seriously couldn’t stop clicking the camera
Oh, little man, you have captured your Momma’s heart
There are all kinds of people in the world. Some morning people, some night owls. I truly think your propensity towards one or the other is an inborn part of your personality. True, you can work on becoming more of a morning person (and society pretty much dictates this to some degree), ones natural inclination, I think, is innate.
For a glimpse of this, one must simply observe my two daughters.
Some of you may remember my post last December (as in 2009) in which I shared one of Scott’s moments of sheer brilliance at the dinner table. Well, I feel the need to tell you that 13 months later and my kids are STILL eating their vegetables to spite their Daddy. I am sure this says something of their character… for which we must spend some time rectifying, but meanwhile my mean spirited little children are eagerly gobbling up their vegetables.
What day is it? We’ve been a bit out of sorts here at the circus… snow days and a power outage resulting in a fun sleepover at Nana and Pop’s… …now it is Friday, but sure feels like Monday…. we’re home and trying to play catch up on schoolwork, house work and laundry… good news is, when we are done… we’ll still have the weekend to enjoy! And next week is Super Bowl week… and in case you missed it… Pittsburgh’s Going to the Superbowl!
My lil guy isn’t a newborn anymore. I’ve known it for awhile.. he’s eating solids, vocalizing, and working on crawling. But, recently, I also realized his days of simply sleeping in my arms are fleeting. He’s working himself into a rhythm… sleeping through the night… taking 2 solid naps a day…The days of just holding my tiny, sleeping newborn in my arms are over. So on those random Sunday afternoons when he falls asleep in my arms, I am going to stay put and savor the moment.