R & K sit at opposite ends of the table and generally use mealtimes to needle each other, sometimes to tears. K loves to report, "I ang-wy. He boddering me, Mom." This morning over breakfast, the picking was at an all time high. Both K & R had been crying. I asked them if we needed to pray and ask God to help us be kind and loving to one another. R replied, "I do it." Then he looked straight up at the ceiling and said, "Hey! God! Make K be nice."
P does not generally get into their bickering, but he is not-so-innocent. Something I have not mentioned about P is that the child is a walking tornado. He must touch, throw and otherwise attempt to disassemble everything in his path. He doesn't say much during meals, he just makes HUGE messes. All of life is a science project for him. Mealtimes are a real struggle because he squishes every piece of food between his hands, rubs it into his hair and loves to flick or throw food to "see what will happen." One thing that frequently happens is a stern warning from Mom, sometimes followed by time out or even a pop on the hand. Last night at dinner, he took a whole spoon full of food and deliberately flicked it onto the floor. I looked at him crossly, then slowly and deeply said, "P..." He looked right at me with his best imitation of my stern face, then shook his hands at me and said, "Don't say it, Mommy. No. Nope. Don't. Say. Any-thing."
In other news, something happened this morning (not at the table) that reduced me to a melting mess of joyful tears...K & P woke up at 6:20. I brought them downstairs and started a Praise Baby DVD, while I went to the kitchen to prepare coffee for me and milk for them. Suddenly, I heard P, as clear as day singing loudly,"Open the eyes of my heart Lord, I want to see You..." He knew every word and sang it beautifully. I stepped out into the hallway so that I could listen closely without him seeing me and found Daddy, 60 feet away at the other end of the hall doing the same thing. We locked eyes and laughed. It was one of those I-think-my-heart-might-burst-if-it-were-any-fuller laughs. I have seriously never, ever heard a sweeter sound in my life than my child singing joyfully about Jesus. It is moments like these that make crazy days and frustrating moments COMPLETELY worth it.
13 comments:
I only have one two year old to handle, but I am laughing at this post! I think God gives us those precious moments to help us deal with the other, not so precious ones. I think they are so cute as a survival mechanism! I really enjoy your blog. Thanks!
I love how you quote your children. It's so fun because you always spell it exactly the way kids talk! (That post about "I no bomit" STILL cracks me up!)
I got chills when you told the story about you and your husband finding each other in the hallway, both of you listening to your son sing about Jesus. Precious.
I LOVE those moments. My four year old sings "Nothing but the Flood" but the song is actually "Nothing but the Blood' one one of my all time favorites. It is true nothing is sweeter than our little ones singing Gods priases. This was a nice reminder to cherish them more to help balance out the frustrations.
Yikes, and here I am thinking food "experiments" would be over soon...
How beautiful to hear your son sing and have that moment with your husband. That is what it is all about.
It reminds me of the time, I was working on the computer, and my 3 daughters 17,13 & 10, were sitting at the kitchen table, singing "My God is an Awsome God" in harmony. I thought right then and there if I died, I would have served my purpose on this earth. There is nothing more beautiful to a mother's ear. And to know, I have given them the best gift a mother could ever give her children, The knowlege of knowing & loving Jesus Christ. The walk they walk is theirs, but God have me the priveledge of imparting that knowlege to them.
Andi is reading over my shoulder and we both laughed out loud at the first two stories and at the end, we both had tears in our eyes.
We think you should bring the kids to scenic, southern Indiana for a little vacation -- you can stay with us. :)
Andi says, "We've got corn." and I think they would love to see the town "where Lincoln learned the law."
I just absolutely LOVE your blog. I have boy/girl twins that turn five actually today and tomorrow -- 17 minutes apart at midnight. Crazy! Garrett and I were looking at a globe tonight and I was looking for Cayman where we honeymooned. Garrett said "Mommy, where was I when you and Daddy were in the honeybun." I just cracked up. Your stories are priceless!! Thank you for sharing them -- also LOVE LOVE your sweet heart!! Emma Kate
Thank you for your much needed prayers.
Well ..I just have to say that I have stumbled upon your blog , and love it! Life with kids is busy but yet very rewarding at the same time huh,
Chrissy
Those are sweet, sweet times when we hear our children talking and singing about Jesus...nothing better. Your kids are adorable. Thanks for sharing.
I completely agree!! There is nothing like hearing our children's sweet voices singing to Jesus!! Precious.
Two things: I have a friend who is 43 and has a two year old. She is just having so much trouble with all her 'messing'...I tell her that those are science experiments and it means they are smart! It was funny to see you had written that too.
A girl somewhere in my county gave birth to triplets yesterday. I wrote down your blog address for someone who knows her. Don't know if it will get to her or if she would have time to look at it, but...hope so!
Jenn, the fussin and fightin is hilarious and so frustrating. Faith and Grace-Anne are either hugging or attempting to kill one another. Nathaniel seems to steer clear of most of the physical part. He uses psychological warfare. You can try an illustration. Draw some hearts and all your names on a sheet of paper. Let them color and be really proud of their family and then...bit by bit tear it apart and tell them that when they are unkind it is just like tearing up the paper. They might be too young but mine really got it when I did it one night at dinner. Hope you are well and if you visit that family in Indiana before you come to Cinci...Jean
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