Then there is Aiden, who I never really felt like was a newborn. At 9lb, 6oz that boy looked like a toddler when he was born! Now he is getting to be a big boy and I know that one day I won't get his sweet hugs and kisses throughout the day. As each year passes I dread that day more. But I turn to God with a thankful heart for having these sweet moments with my little ones. It is a treasure and a blessing to be their Mommy.
My sweet little girl started Pre-k yesterday. And my little boy turned 2. What a tough day for this Momma who so desperately wants her little ones to stay little. Don't get me wrong, I love watching them meet new milestones and work hard to learn new skills. But I also love that they are so little and sweet. I don't want to miss a moment with my sweet babies and sending one of them off to school to be in the care of someone else for half the day is hard on me. Not on her though! Addyson loves school! I'm the one with the issues.
Then there is Aiden, who I never really felt like was a newborn. At 9lb, 6oz that boy looked like a toddler when he was born! Now he is getting to be a big boy and I know that one day I won't get his sweet hugs and kisses throughout the day. As each year passes I dread that day more. But I turn to God with a thankful heart for having these sweet moments with my little ones. It is a treasure and a blessing to be their Mommy.
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There are so many times that I learn of something new and great and want to share but soon forget. Not necessarily the types of things people pin, but the type of things we live. The most recent of these has to do with those muddy mongrels we just adopted, Max and Molly. Before adopting them I read a lot and found out that if I skimp on their dog food and buy the the crap stuff then I will most definitely pay for it in vet bills. However, we simply can't afford to spend more on the dog's food than we do on our own. So to start we settled with Purina brand food. This is really only a mediocre brand but it sure beats Ol' Roy! It is loaded with corn though, which makes dogs hyper... This posed a problem in that they are huge and I don't really want them bouncing all around, knocking the kids and us over, which is exactly what was happening. So... The good news... You do not have to sacrifice quality to save money after all! As it turns out, Costco sells dog food, produced by the Diamond dog food company under their Kirkland brand (I have discovered this is only sold in stores). The really good news... It is a fraction of the cost of the Purina crap! For a 30 pound bag of Purina I paid about $32, just over a dollar a pound. This much
higher quality food comes in 40 pound bags and runs about $25-27, well under a dollar a pound! This will require a Costco membership but it is well worth it with the money it saves. Another great discovery... Shopathome.com and ebates.com. These websites give you a small percentage of your online shopping purchases back. Before I look to buy anything online I visit these sites and have earned about $42 back on purchases I was making anyway, just this year! Another secret to this is to go online and order items before even going to the store. For example, I needed soil and fertilizer last week. So instead of lugging all the kids to pick this up at Home Depot I went to shopathome.com, searched for Home Depot and was redirected to their site. I then ordered my bags of soil and fertilizer, which the kind HD employees went and got ready for me. All I had to do was go to the store, tell them what I ordered and they loaded them for us. The best part is that I get a refund check for 5% on what I spent! Oh, and I was able to use a $5 off $50 Home Depot coupon I found on Shopathome.com! That made this frugal girl very happy! Office max. They give me stuff all the time! Well, not exactly just like that but pretty much. They have a great rewards program! Here is how it works: Office Max advertises 100% back in rewards on certain products. So last summer I started taking advantage of this awesome, secret program. A desk chair was about $80 out of my pocket at the time. So I paid $70 up front and at the end of the quarter they gave me $70 in their rewards dollars good toward any future products. They soon had cases of paper for $40 but offered 100% back in rewards. So I trekked myself down and bought 2 cases of paper. (It would take me forever to use all this paper so I donated most of it) this gave me another $80ish in rewards dollars to use in the next quarter. Then I see that they have writing supplies 100% back if ordered online. No problem! I love ordering online! They gave me numerous packs of markers, pens, Sharpies, highlighters, mechanical pencils, etc. and you guessed it... Rewards dollars! Once those rewards roll over I can use them again. Since it is going to be back to school time in July I know there will be lots of great opportunities to use them! Just to clarify, this is just a sample of the items I have actually purchased using their rewards. Some other items I have gotten for "free" (not completely free because you do pay money out of pocket for the first purchase, it's free after that) are: luggage set, a good quality backpack, other cases of paper, crayons, glue, batteries, etc. Their deals change each week and some weeks are better than others but there are lots of blogs that post the best deals, or just check out their flier either in the Sunday paper or online. One last favorite of mine is actually a website for the kids. Readingeggs.com is the best site I have ever come across! This site has helped Addyson and Jacob a great deal with learning to read, and the best part... They love it! The creators of Reading Eggs also just opened a sister site called Math Seeds that is just as great! Both of these are paying sites but if you let me know you are interested I can email you an invitation to try Reading Eggs for 2 weeks for free! The kids and I love these sites so much that I did end up paying for them. Ok, those are all my secrets for today, I invite you to share any great "secrets" you know of in the comments below! For almost 7 years now there has been something weighing heavily on my heart. I remember seeing a homeless person in the freezing cold for the first time when I was 15. It was while I was on a school trip to Ontario, Canada. It hit something deep inside me and I so badly wanted to do something for that poor man I saw shivering in the cold. Years passed before I faced this awful reality again. It still hit just as hard the next time and every time I have come in contact with someone who is homeless.
I have always done what I can at that point in my life to reach out to any homeless people I come in contact with. This compassion is something I feel is important to pass along to my children so we have made up bags of hygiene items and snacks that we give out. Unfortunately, I don't always have them in the car with me. I am one of those people who gives them some cash because I feel it's the right thing to do. Afterall, everything I have is God's anyway. I know they could use the money to buy booze but it's not my place to tell them how to spend God's money. As a human, I'm not always a good steward of His blessings so what right do I have to judge someone else? Typically I hand a homeless man a few dollars or give him one of the bags the kids made up and he responds with something like, "thank you, God bless you!" And that's the end of the encounter. Not lately though... I drove up to a Hess station a couple weeks ago and spotted a homeless man digging through the garbage for aluminum cans. So I sat for a moment and thought. Then I got out of the car, walked over to him and told him I would like to buy him a sandwich. He declined my offer and told me he collects cans and that's how he survives. I took another look at this man in front of me who was skinny as a rail and probably hadn't had a shower in quite some time. His clothes were torn and his face was dirty. Yet he spoke like a man with such dignity. Again I offered, telling him I would really like to buy him a sandwich and again he politely declined my offer. This weighed on me... a homeless man whom many refer to as a "begger" was declining the offer of a filling dinner. I wasn't sure what to make of this. Then just a couple days ago I was at a stop light and saw a man who wasn't skin and bones like the other man but he was obviously homeless. He held a sign though I can't recall what it said. I reached into my purse and pulled out a few dollars and handed it to him. When he accepted the money he thanked me and it became very obvious from those few words that this man was mentally challenged. The light turned green and I had to drive away although I'm not sure what I would have done had I stayed. As I drove away I prayed for this man. I also had mixed emotions of compassion for him and anger at society, myself included, that this person was homeless. See, I believe some people choose to be homeless for one reason or another. I don't believe that was this man's case though. I doubt he is someone who would be able to care for and support himself. So why is he homeless? Our government pays so much money to people in welfare and social security benefits. How does this man get missed? Isn't there a program that could help him get into a group home or something along those lines? I would much prefer my tax dollars go to helping people like this than into the pockets of already rich politicians. This has been on my mind for days now and I needed to get my thoughts out. I'm not sure what I could have done differently that day. I would have loved to bring him home with me, give him a warm meal, let him take a shower and find some of Paul's clothes for him to wear. Unfortunately, with 4 small children at home I just couldn't take the chance. I keep thinking I could have called DCF but would they have done anything? Beyond this I'm at a loss. If I knew he was going to be there every day I would probably drive past each day and bring him food and other necessities. But it's rare that I see the same homeless person more than once for various reasons. If I had a dollar for every person who gave me a bewildered look upon finding out that I have delivered my babies naturally I could buy myself a new wardrobe (and I'm talking name-brand clothes, such big name brands that I don't even know the names of them because I usually just scour the clearance racks in department stores). No, seriously, for some reason it's just baffling to people that I choose to labor and deliver my children without the assistance of drugs. Then for a real shocker I like to inform them that I haven't been to a hospital to deliver a baby yet. Bwah ha ha... oh the looks! Pure mortification(I may or may not have just made that word up) in their eyes! It sounds a bit sick on my part but I really enjoy that shock-factor.
So there are two big questions people ask me following these conversations: 1. Why would you deliver without pain meds? and 2. Why would you deliver anywhere but a hospital, isn't that dangerous? Generally I just shrug and tell them it's the best thing for me any my baby and I've done plenty of research on the subject. I'm dismissive mostly because they aren't usually interested in actually hearing why and/or at least one of us has an antsy child who isn't going to stay entertained listening to me talk about the reasons for my decision. Here's how I would respond to those questions given enough time. First and foremost, I deliver my babies without an epidural or any pain medicine because that's what's best for them. Can you honestly tell me that you believe it's possible to have an epidural going into a mother's body and not have that same medicine going through the bloodstream and into the baby's tiny body? Is there any way possible that it could be good for a child that small? Heck no! Each of my babies has turned their heads and began holding their own heads up within 24 hours of their birth. That alone is worth it to deal with the pain for a few hours. Now, there are other reasons as well. Another big one is that once an epidural is administered a mother is limited in mobility. She usually has to stay laying in a bed, just waiting for labor to progress. I don't know about you all, but I want labor to go as fast as possible! Let's face it, it hurts! Being able to be up and walking around, sitting on a birthing ball, squatting to help the baby descend, relaxing in a warm birthing pool, etc. sounds soooooooo much better to me than being stuck laying in a bed! I will have plenty of time to lay in bed in the days following the baby's arrival. Here's the last major reason I prefer to deliver naturally- NEEDLES. I'm not a fan. Especially of a large one they want to stick in my spine! Seriously? Maybe I'm the coward, but I prefer needles in my arm and only when absolutely necessary. No needles in my spine, please. Let's go back to the part where I was talking about labor going as fast as possible- when labor lasts too long doctors often push patients into having c-sections. Now, if I'm not into the idea of having a needle stuck in my back, I'm surely not into the idea of having my stomach sliced open. I can't think of many things that I would enjoy less. Is it absolutely necessary to have a c-section just because labor is lasting longer than a doctor would like? Surely not! But they don't tell you that. So many of my friends have been scared into agreeing to C-sections that most likely would have been avoided if they hadn't had epidurals. So let's think about this- enduring the pain for a couple hours or risking the chance (about 40% in Central Florida according to http://www.floridahealthfinder.gov/researchers/QuickStat/cesarean-buffer.aspx) of having to have a c-section. Personally I prefer the pain for a few hours as opposed to the possibility of a c-section and the pain of that for several weeks. To answer the second part of this about why I choose not to deliver in hospitals and isn't it more dangerous. Plain and simple: I hate hospitals. I view them as a place for people to go when they are going to die. That's a bit extreme, I know, but in my mind that's what they are for. I'm not saying I'm against hospitals altogether, in fact I was in the hospital during my last pregnancy for a few hours to make sure I didn't go into preterm labor. My youngest son was in the hospital last year when he spiked a fever and my husband was in the hospital twice last year for surgery. So am I against them altogether? Surely not. I just don't feel that they are the best place for me to deliver a baby. Let's start with the sterility of a hospital- I can't stand the white walls everywhere. Is it unsanitary to paint them calming colors? Why white... everywhere? It's maddening in my mind. With my second baby I delivered at a birthing center that was beautifully decorated, like a calming atmosphere straight from a magazine. It was beautiful and peaceful to add to the ambiance of the entire birth experience. With my first child I also delivered at a birthing center, though it wasn't quite as elaborately decorated. It was homey though, nothing like a hospital. My youngest child was delivered in the comfort of our home. For me, this was wonderful. I was allowed to have candles lit, music playing, the lights dimmed. Child-birth has been more of a romantic-type experience than a standard procedure for me. No beeping machines, no commotion in the hallway outside my room (except the commotion of people I choose to allow there), no bright lights in my eyes, no IV connected to me. Just peace. In addition to the ambiance I am able to enjoy outside of the hospital, I have control over what happens during and after my births. My 3 year old daughter stood beside me and watched as my last child was born. My husband was in the water with me and caught our sweet baby and laid her on my chest, where she remained until I was ready to get out of the birthing pool. She stayed with me every minute (besides a few short minutes when her Daddy took her out to meet her Grandpa.) Had we been in a hospital the nurses would have quickly swept her away to measure and weigh her and clean her up. It's not necessary to do it immediately after a baby is born. Why the rush? Weighing and measuring is something we got around to each time but not something we rushed to do. After a baby is born the umbilical cord has to be cut. The umbilical cord is attached from the placenta to the baby. In a hospital this cord is cut immediately, as is procedure. For my last two children my wise midwife, Callie, taught me that it doesn't need to be done right away. In fact, the umbilical cord wasn't cut for several minutes after the baby was born, not until it stopped pulsating. This allowed the remainder of the blood in the placenta to make it's way into the baby's body. Blood is a pretty important thing... why not give the baby as much of it as possible? By no means do I look down on anyone who chooses to deliver in a hospital, have a c-section or an epidural. Childbirth is a very personal thing in a woman's life and each woman has to make the decision to do what is best for her, her family and her baby. I am simply explaining what was best for us and why. I hope that readers of this will take something beneficial away from this. Remember Mommies, whether you deliver at home, a birthing center or a hospital, it is YOUR BIRTH! Explain clearly to your caretaker ahead of time what it is you want and if they are not willing to do that, find someone who is. Have a birthing plan and make sure that whoever will be in the room with you (husband, boyfriend, mother, sister, friend, etc) knows what you want and will take a firm stand to make sure your wishes are being held to by the hospital staff. As much as you may think you will be able to stand up for yourself during this time, you may not. Many of us react much differently during childbirth than other times and you may end up agreeing to something you will later regret. Know wha Our sweet little girl is 11 days old already, which is hard for this Momma to swallow. She is the sweetest, easiest baby so far, except at night. At night she is sweet as long as I let her sleep on my chest. Nowhere else is acceptable. During the day, however, she will gladly sleep in her bassinet, swing, on my bed, in her car seat or wherever else she chooses to succumb to her fatigue. Enough about what an angel we have been blessed with now, this post is about Ella's birth.
It was a Monday night, I was 38 weeks, 5 days pregnant with Ella and I was about done with being pregnant. I told Paul that I needed to run to Ross to get a few things then I was going to bed but that starting the next morning we were going to be doing whatever we had to to get labor going. I knew the time was coming, very, very soon. The following morning I went into labor. I actually got up with Paul and the kids but decided to lay back down for a bit since I hadn't been sleeping well at night. After laying down for a short while I began having contractions. My initial thought was, "this is too good to be true, going into labor during the day, on a Tuesday (which meant that my Father-in-law didn't have to work that night and also my best friend would be able to make it since she came back from her mini-vacation the night before). I lay there for a while before I decided to start timing the contractions. At this point it was about 8:30am and the contractions were sporadic so I decided it wasn't true labor. My dad called and we talked for a short while then I got up out of bed and began my day, figuring I should get the last of the birthing stuff together and ready just in case I went into labor soon. By about 9:30 I called my midwife, Callie, and told her that I may be in labor but that the contractions weren't lasting long enough. At this point they were about 3 or so minutes apart but only lasting 30 seconds. We decided that she would call me back in an hour to see how things were going. By the time she called me back they were pretty intense but I still wasn't convinced it was true labor. She decided to head my way just in case. I text my father-in-law and bestie to let them know it was baby-time (or at least I was hoping it was baby-time because the contractions were hurting quite a bit). I continued to get things ready and began ordering Paul around. Upon inflating the birthing pool we discovered that the hose to fill it would not attach to our sink or shower. Therefore I had a decision to make: go without the birthing pool or send my husband to Home Depot to get an adapter. Easy. He went to Home Depot. This left me at home alone, well, kind of. Addyson, our 3 year old daughter was with me and Aiden, our 1 year old son was in his bed napping. After about 15 minutes I regretted the decision to send him as I was progressing pretty quick and was pretty sure it was true labor, even though I have always been paranoid about crying wolf. I gave Addyson some instructions about things she needed to help Mommy with as I was trying to take care of everything I felt needed done between contractions. I had stopped timing them by now but they were pretty close together. Suddenly my phone starts ringing and it's Tracy, my best friend. She needed directions to my house from school. I told her to hold on as I breathed through a contraction, then quickly gave her directions before the next one started. Thank God she showed up just a short while later. The next few minutes are a blur as I tried to focus and make it through the contractions that were coming faster and stronger each time. Luckily my midwife arrived soon after this, around noon I would say. Paul also got back with the attachment and was able to hook the hose up to the shower to fill the birthing pool. By this time I was in the bedroom laboring and being the control freak that I can be, listening to everything going on to make sure it was all being done exactly as I had planned in my mind. Callie's birthing assistant, Jenn, offered to rub my back to help with the pain. What I remember best is how she or Callie were able to press on my hips just firm enough to help relieve some of the pain. Several times they asked me if I was ready to get in the pool but the contractions were so intense and frequent that I didn't want to move or do anything. I decided to use the restroom once more before getting in the pool. Funny side note: apparently most women just pee in the birthing pool or tub but I'm waaaaay to squeamish for that. After using the restroom I put on a swimming top and got into the pool with their assistance. Immediately I felt some relief from the contractions. Paul boiled water on the stove to make sure the pool was warm enough and would bring it in every few minutes. That, too, was soothing. I'm not sure how much time went by, I wouldn't say more than about 20 minutes or so before I was feeling the urge to push and looking at Callie as if something was wrong. I told her a few times, "I feel like I need to push". She kept telling me, "Do what your body tells you to do". Yet I couldn't bring myself to push. In my mind things went too fast and there was no way that the baby was low enough and I was dilated enough to be pushing already. Finally I had her check and she confirmed what my body had been telling me, I needed to PUSH! Yet I still couldn't bring myself to do it partially because I felt things had progressed too quick and partly because my water hadn't broken yet. By this time Paul was climbing in the pool with me, clothes and all, as he was preparing to catch the baby. I'm not sure exactly when, but they brought Addyson in to be with me during the baby's delivery. She was amazingly sweet and quiet during the whole thing. She held my hand and smiled so sweetly at me. I'm not sure much could have soothed me more than her being there, other than the relief I felt from the prayers I prayed. During each contraction I prayed a little prayer that went something like this: "Father, thank you for this pain. I know that this pain is temporary yet necessary to bring this sweet child into the world. You have blessed me twice already during birth and I pray that you continue to bless us with another healthy baby. Lord, give me the strength to get through this, strength that I know can only come from you." A few more contractions went by and I didn't think I could hold back on pushing any longer. Each time I prayed that I felt relief from the contractions like I've never felt before. I reached my hand down and felt my baby's head. I questioned this in my mind since I still hadn't felt my water break yet I couldn't not push, my body forced me to by this point. So I pushed through a couple contractions, because I learned with my 9 pound, 6 ounce baby that if I eased the baby out, I wouldn't tear. Tearing was one of my biggest fears because it hurt like hell afterwards with Addyson, who was only 7 pounds, 11 ounces. Before I knew it Paul was laying our sweet little girl on my chest. I didn't have confirmation yet as to whether the baby was a boy or girl but the moment I looked at her sweet face I knew without checking. Although I did check a minute or two later, just to be sure. I looked at her, gave her a kiss and whispered, "I love you sweet Ella!" The past few weeks have not been easy on anyone in my house yet Addyson and Aiden seem to have adapted so well. They enjoy having Mommy home with them but are not so ridiculously demanding that I'm not enjoying it as well. In all honesty, I love every second of the time we are spending together. My only regret is that I am not physically able to do more with them. Enough about me, this is about them!
Addyson has been the biggest helper I could ask for! She has taken on many more responsibilities than a three year old should have and manages very well. She fills hers and Aiden's cups regularly, bringing them to me only to unscrew and affix the tops. Addy eagerly gets healthy snacks (string cheese, fruit, yogurt) from the fridge to share with her brother. Not only does she get them out, but if it's something messy she will actually sit and spoon-feed Aiden! Both of them allow me to take occassional morning naps. Aiden plays quietly in his play-pen beside the couch and Addyson entertains herself with books and toys or watches one of her educational shows. Addyson is constantly cleaning up messes after her baby brother (mostly toys, but also food that he throws on the floor). She fetches his cup when he drops it from his seat as well. This sweet girl even climbs in her brother's crib in the morning and plays with him until Paul or I go in to get him out! What an amazingly sweet girl and sweet blessing. Aiden is much younger and at 13 months he's limited in his knowledge of what all is going on but he's been so adaptable to everything. He plays contently most of the day in his or Addyson's room or else in the living room. Although he has moments of frustration where he screams at me, he is usually very happy-go-lucky and doesn't demand constant attention from me. Often I will tell him to go get a book for us to read and he knows just where they are and which books are his so he fetches a book and snuggles with me to read it, if only for a few moments. I can't express how blessed I feel to have such wonderful, loving young children! They are both so sweet and it's like they have a 6th sense about when to love on their Momma Yet again I find myself posting on here after too much time has gone by. School has begun and ended (for me). I started the school year out 2 weeks before students to prepare and then completed the first 3 weeks of teaching before having to go out on maternity leave. Complications with this sweet one are preventing me from being in what has very much proved to be a mission field. Although rewarding and enjoyable, me teaching has also been quite a challenge for my family.
Addyson and Aiden instantly became clingy to me in the evenings and on weekends as well as whiny! Whiny as can be! Jacob started acting up because he wasn't getting the same structure and consistency he had grown used to. Then there's Paul. Paul wouldn't say a word, but he didn't have to most of the time, the look on his face said it all. Poor guy went from having a wife who took care of the majority of the housework and kid stuff to having to do much of it on his own. I was just too tired and in too much physical pain to do it so he had no choice but to step up and do it. So where I go from here is still unclear to me. Do I return in January, after baby "Ella" is born? Or should I stay home with the kids? Thinking about getting up that early each day after being up much of the night with a newborn exhausts me. And that's just a thought. That's not even taking into account that we need to find a new nanny. Decisions, decisions. I'm looki So it's been a while since my last post. I'm going to try to be better from here on out. A lot has happened this summer but this morning it is weighing on my heart to tell about my first week back to school.
Most teachers in Orange County don't go back to school until next week, however, the teachers at Carver went backfor 3 days this week in addition to our time next week. I have had mixed feelings and emotions about this decision to go back to teaching since I accepted the position. Prior to accepting I prayed a great deal that God would put up a roadblock if it wasn't His will for me to go back to teaching and work at this school. After much prayer I feel that He has a plan for me in all this and that Carver Middle is where He wants me to be. I told him long ago, "Send me!" And that's just what He did. My first morning I was wide awake at 6am. All the way to school I prayed and talked to God, asking Him to lead me, guide me and give me wisdom and strength to change many lives this year. I listened to Ephesians 6 each day as I clothed myself in the Armor of God. I buckled the belt of truth around my waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place and with my feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. I took up the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit as I prepared each morning to enter a situation that is both challenging to be in as well as an emotional struggle as I leave my little ones each morning. Reflecting back now there were many times during this week that I may normally have thrown my hands in the air and wanted to quit. But quitting is not an option in my mind. I'm not working for the paycheck, I'm working for God and as long as He wants me to be there, that's where I will be. Each morning I will be clothing myself with His Armor and praying for his protection and guidance. It is my prayer that I change many lives, that I lead many people to Christ and that I foster a love for learning in the minds of all my students. OK, so it's now "Facebook Official"! Baby Huff is due November 7, 2012. We all (Paul, Jacob, Addyson, Aiden, Jeanettee and myself) went to the ultrasound today. Although Paul desperately wanted to find out the sex, we did not. Here are a few pictures of my sweet little one:
Paul and I have a very strong-willed child, possibly a second but since he's only 10 months old it's hard to be sure just yet. Over the last year or two I have been reading, praying, discussing, and so on different parenting methods. My highest priority in raising my children is for them to know Jesus. Not just know Him as common folk church-goers but really know Him, intimately. This is often called having a personal relationship with Jesus. How exactly do parents lead their children to knowing their Savior intimately? Is there a script I should follow? A set of directions that works for every child? I don't believe there is.
So Paul and I have decided the most important traits we want to instill in our children. One of these is obedience to authority. If our little ones are able to be obedient to authority we hope that one day they will choose to be obedient to God. Alright, so here's what happened today... Little Miss Addyson has decided recently to throw away any food she doesn't want to eat. Then she asks for something different. I caught her the other day and decided enough was enough. So two nights ago we had cheeseburgers for dinner. Addyson refused to eat hers, which is typical of her with almost any food in the evening lately (except ice cream or junk food). I told her to put it on the counter and she would be having it for lunch the next day. She said that was fine with her, put her plate on the counter and went to play. Addy wasn't so enthusiastic about this deal the next day at lunch but rather than argue, she picked her bun apart and ate it, leaving the lone cheeseburger. I put it back in the fridge and reminded her she was getting it for dinner, figuring she would be hungry enough by dinnertime to eat it. No luck. Dinner came and went without her even taking a bite of her burger. At this point I began to wonder if I should just back down. I decided I shouldn't do that just yet. So I explained that she was going to get it again for breakfast. We had a very unhappy girl this morning when she asked for pancakes and I told her she would be eating her cheeseburger first. She screamed for a minute but quickly realized that wasn't going to get her anywhere, it never does. So she took a different approach today. She glared at me, "Den I will just throw it in the trash!" I told her she better not and that she would get a spanking for disobeying if she made that bad choice. I'm not sure exactly when she did it, but she threw it in the trash within the next few minutes. When I saw this I asked her where her cheeseburger was and she told me the truth right away. Thank God for her honesty all the time! I got the wooden spoon and told her to go in her room. She obeyed fairly well, even following the whole spanking routine we go through each time without even a whimper. Just before I spanked her she asked, "after my spanking can I have pancakes?" SPEECHLESS! What do I say to a 2 year old who reasons things out this well? Before throwing her food away she decided that she would rather be spanked than have to eat her cheeseburger. So, now I'm looking at this from 2 perspectives. Here's the first, the more negative one that concerns me: I fear that her present disobedience may cause more issues down the road. When she's a teenager will she choose to sneak out of the house to go to a party and just accept the consequences later? Will she disobey her superiors at work and lose her job? Will she stray from God and be lost? The other perspective I see is that she is very strong-willed when she has her mind set to something. So, if she is living according to Jesus' will as she grows then maybe she will live radically for Him, accepting her consequences among peers, society or anyone to go to the ends of the earth to spread the gospel. This is definitely not something within this otherwise very sweet, good little girl that I want to tame! I know I am biased toward my children and I tend to always look for the positive in everyone but here's how I perceive my daughter... She is strong-willed when she has her mind set to something. The rest of the time she is mostly compliant and does what she is told. She is the biggest helper and does so many chores around the house that most parents don't even expect from older children. She is nurturing and caring toward other children her age, older and younger. Except when she is really determined to have something done a different way she is very much of a rule-follower. She definitely has a servant's heart. She loves her family very much and reminds us of this daily, both verbally and in her actions. She watches everything her Mommy does and models her own actions very closely after the example I set. So, what do I do about this strong-willed child? Did I handle things the correct way today? Ultimately only God has these answers. I welcome any thoughts, comments or suggestions below. |
About TrishI am a busy Mommy who loves to spend time with her little ones. I am going to attempt to post on here regularly but make no promises. Archives
August 2013
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