iShine Updates
Today’s post is from my friend, the one and only…
She is a regular contributor to EpicParent because of her parenting insight, her “poop” humor (because poop is always funny) and because she loves Jesus and her family more than life!
Be sure to check out her blog HERE.
Michelle, it’s a true honor to have you post for EP!! You’re truly gifted, my friend.
So here’s Michelle…
Getting out of my house for any given reason is a serious lesson in the art of patience. We are perpetually late for every single place we need to be. While my friends have all come to expect me to never ever be on time, I feel really bad when I’m late for something like soccer practice (where we’re actually PAYING MONEY for a child to participate.) That is why I nearly popped a vein the other afternoon trying to locate my son when it was past time to retrieve my oldest monster from the (expensive) after PreK program.
I had inevitably gotten caught up in whatever it was that I was doing on Monday afternoon and had completely lost track of the time. (Shocker!) Before I knew it, my my preschooler’s ”after-hours” sesson was ending and I needed to put the pedal to the medal in order to pick him up. I called my little one’s name over and over again to get in the car but got absolutely no response back from him. The blaring music coming from down the hall was a clear indication that he was most likely rocking out in his room to some Imagination Movers or Veggie Tales Sing-a-long and couldn’t hear me.
I barged into his bedroom only to find a blaring radio playing in a dark, empty room. What the?! Where the heck was this little monster??!! I then went from room to room repeatedly shouting his name as the clock ticked farther and farther past the time I was supposed to pick up Mr. Grouchy Pants. I knew he clearly didn’t disappear into thin air, but after ten minutes of unsuccessful searching throughout the entire house, I was actually beginning to wonder if I had a little Houdini on my hands.
I contemplated how much to sell the kid for on eBay as I mumbled and grumbled my way back down the hallway one last time to re-check his bedroom. Not there. But then I heard some faint thumping coming from my bedroom and as I stepped closer, I also realized that the lights were going on and off in there. I tip-toed towards the direction of the thurmping and and heard what sounded to be Lady Gaga behind my closet door. I whipped open the closet door and nearly peed myself laughing at the sight that lay before me. There in the very back of the walk-in closet was my son, booty a-shakin’, disco lights a-shinin’. He had my oldest’s ipod and had stumbled upon “Poker Face” and was flickering the lights to the beat as he shook his hips to and fro. Through fits of giggles and even a tear or two, I somehow managed to ask what on earth he was doing, to which he matter-of-factly replied, “Having a dance party! “ Cause the closet is where that typically takes place, ya know.
YOU ARE INVITED!
WHAT: A disco party!
WHERE: In the closet!
WHY: Why not??!!
Needless to say, my anger wore off pretty quickly. Cause honestly, how can you be mad at that? Wouldn’t life would be a heckova lot more fun if we all stopped and took the time every now and then to have a disco party in the closet?
Parents…are you exhausted, worn out, loosing your mind? Do you feel like every now and then YOU need to have a disco party in the closet? Would love to hear your story!
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Do you know what your kids need??
I don’t think you heard me!
Let me ask one more time.
Do you REALLY know what your kids need?
- Parents that love God more than money!
- Parents that give God the first 10% of their pay check!
- Parents that set an example by surrendering internet porn!
- Parents that spend time in God’s Word every single day!
- Parents that pray over their kids everyday on the way to school!
- Parents that teach their kids to hear the voice of God!
- Parents that don’t have mullets!
- Fathers that love Jesus more than their job!
- Fathers that teach their kids to pray!
- Fathers that treat mom with honor and respect!
- Fathers that are leaders in the church!
- Fathers that make church a priority!
- Fathers that hate passivity!
- Fathers that prioritizes his children over his phone!
- Mothers that read the Word of God to their kids!
- Mothers that praise and honor dad!
- Mothers that prioritize kids over laundry!
- Mothers that speak in a God honoring tone!
- Mothers that spend time worshiping at the feet of Jesus!
Share 1 thing your kids need from you!
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I believe that parents are called to honor their children!
Say What?
Whatchu talkin about Willis!!?!
Seriously?
Yep!! Let me say it one more time, this time a little slower…
I…believe…that…parents…are…called…to…honor…their…children!
Yeah, Gods Word is full of the “obey your parents” command. But as you look through scripture, you will also see how important and valuable kids are to Jesus.
One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” Mark 13-15
Look at this verse in Ephesians as well…
“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4
To “provoke . . . to anger” suggests a repeated, ongoing pattern of treatment that gradually builds up a deep–seated anger and resentment that boils over in outward hostility.
It doesn’t specifically use the word honor, but I believe these verses, as well as others point the finger at parents and say…you better honor your kiddos.
Instead…so many parents unknowingly (and sometimes) intentionally “dis-honor” their kids. Is that you?
Here are 7 signs you dis-honor your kids…
- YOUR A WELL MEANING OVER PROTECTOR: Are you one of those smotherer parents? Do you overly restrict where they can go and what they can do? Do you rarely trust them to do things on their own? Do you continually question their judgment?
- YOU SHOW FAVORITISM: For parents to compare their children with each other, this can be devastating to the child who is less talented or favored. He will tend to become discouraged, resentful, withdrawn, and bitter. Favoritism by parents generally leads to favoritism among the children themselves, who pick up the practice from their parents. They will favor one brother or sister over the others and will often favor one parent over the other.
- YOU PUSH ACHIEVEMENT BEYOND REASONABLE BOUNDS: A child can be so pressured to achieve that he is virtually destroyed. He quickly learns that nothing he does is sufficient to please his parents. No sooner does he accomplish one goal than he is challenged to accomplish something better.
- YOUR ARE A DISCOURAGER: A child who is never complimented or encouraged by his parents is destined for trouble.
- YOU MAKE YOUR KIDS FEEL UNWANTED: Children who are made to feel that they are an intrusion, that they are always in the way and interfere with the plans and happiness of the parents, cannot help becoming resentful.
- YOU FORCE YOUR KIDS TO GROW UP FAST: Chiding your kiddos for always acting childish, does not contribute to their maturity but rather helps confirm them in their childishness.
- YOU USE LOVE AS A TOOL: Do you grant love when your child is good and do you withdraw it when he is bad? Often the practice is unconscious, but a child can sense if a parent cares for him less when is he disobedient than when he behaves.
If this is you…you should probably read THIS post next!
Do you struggle with honoring your kids? If so, I would love to hear your story?
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John 20:27-28 “Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe. ” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” (E bible.com)
Easter celebrations often eclipse our real lives. The surge of home life, family…friends, kids all gathering over huge meals and attending church services in their sunday best, focused on the ritual celebration of new life, resurrection and hope that Christ brings to dearly held traditions of faith and family. We want everything to be just right… new dresses, easter egg hunts in full bloom and brunches on sunday after the service leads to naps and sleepy afternoons. By the time monday morning shows up, we’re weary and bleary from the rush of the weekends events and extra visitors in our lives.
Courtesy of www.ehow.com
School, work and routine resume their “normal” status again and we rush off to complete our duties as responsible citizens in an effort to maintain the status quo of our life. Only this Easter its different.
It maybe that we are longing for something more?
Hopeful somewhere down deep in our hearts… longing to find the joy of Easter Sunday and the promise of resurrection should be there for us on monday? But it doesn’t seem to work that way for us…it doesn’t FEEL that way today. We feel empty, tired… worn out and doubting if anything in our lives can or will ever change.
Be encouraged, God is still God. His resurrection is still a reality regardless of how we feel or don’t feel. Sunday worship has subsided, but it has not evaporated, its impact is still resonating in your heart of hearts. God is with us, with you. He has not left or withdrawn from your monday anymore than he made an extra visit on sunday, He is constant, sure, relentless in His heroic love.
Today’s Ebible.com reading was waiting in my monday inbox and it was perfect….I posted it on the top of this blog. It reminded me of the truth of Easter, Christ is coming for each of us. Thomas didn’t see or “feel” the resurrection power of Christ on the third day, and when the other excited and emotional disciples gushed on Thomas about their own faith and hope being restored in Jesus as the Messiah… Thomas had that familiar cynic’s “wait and see” attitude.
Literally. Thomas wanted to “See” it for himself…
That’s o.k., no problem… Christ did come for Thomas… twice according the Gospels. He was determined to show Thomas the truth in ways that Thomas couldn’t refute, ignore or escape. Not to provoke Thomas, but to persuade Him. Jesus was relentless in sharing His resurrection reality with Thomas in the weeks following His miraculous recovery from death to life.
The Incredulity of St. Thomas." Benjamin West, c.a. 1790. Leeds, UK
Christ is coming for you, for us. He wants to “show you” His love, His power to overcome any obstacle in our lives, any pain, any loss that has caused you to shrink back from the risk of trusting Him again. You’re in great company…
Thomas went on to become an amazing Apostle to the Asian continent and shared his refound Faith and Hope for decades as a personal ambassador and ultimately a martyr for this resurrected King Jesus.
Look for Christ’s touch in your circumstances on this monday after Easter… and look for Him in all the Mondays to follow. His reality is ours to share. We just have to reach out and “touch it”….
Peace out,
brad
Tagged: brad mathias, Christian parenting, Easter, EBible.com, faith and family, Hope, Resurrection, Road Trip Parenting, St. Thomas 
Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.” Ephesians 6:1-3
So my favorite part of this verse is the “things will go well for you” part! Just in case you wanted to know.
Anyway, let’s just sum up Eph. 6:1-3 this way…
If you don’t honor your parents you’re a looser and you should prepare to die!!
My theological interpretation probably needs a little work, so if you want to study more about this section of scripture, you can take a deeper look HERE.
But really.
What does it mean for adults to honor their adult parents?
Does it mean to follow their every word with blind confidence in their judgment? Does it mean that they’re always right and that I’m just some dumb adult kid who doesn’t know what he wants? Do they really know what’s best for me? In all their years and wisdom, should I really consult them before making any gigantic decisions?
And then there are those of you that have been deeply wounded and hurt by your parents.
You have been the victim of verbal assault, screaming, abuse, neglect , absence, passivity and there are some of you that just have really “not wise” parents. So does this verse apply to you as well?
I have parenting wounds, as all of us do.
But I believe that we are all called to honor our parents in some form or fashion. I have been wrestling with what honor looks like. Asking how can I show my parents honor? And here is where God sent me…
“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” 1 Corinthians 13
So in my quest to learn more about honor, I realized that God is asking me to “13″ my parents!!?!
Yeah, that’s right! 13 them!
Be patient with them. Be irrationally kind to them. Don’t be rude, but walk in honor. Just because you are older and have a voice, don’t demand or command them. Again, practice patience not irritation. Burn the ledger of right and wrongs. Rejoice with and for them. Don’t give up on the relationship, have faith that God will move and work.
So today, I challenge all of you to stand up and honor your parents!
Write them a letter, give them a call, forgive them, ask them to forgive you, share your heart with them, speak life to them, thank them for a specific time in your childhood and let them know that come hell and high water that you will always love and honor them!
Did this speak to you today? If so, I would love to hear your story.
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Mom and Dad…
I just gotta ask you 1 question.
This will be one of those rhetorical, listen to what I’m really saying, trying to make a strong point, get a clue kind of a question.
Do you have any idea how much your (kids ministry/student ministry/family ministry pastor) cares, loves, weeps, prays for, thinks about and sacrifices for your kids!!?!
Do you?
Huh?
I bet not!!
So here are just a few things your kidmin/stumin/fammin pastor does and deals with on a regular basis…
casting vision, prepping messages, coordinating teams, planning, buying supplies for chubby bunny, planning youth camp, organizing mission trips, counseling kids, praying over families, counseling hurting families, reaching out to uninterested kids, investing in spiritually hungry kids, sacrificing weekends for ministry, sacrificing family time to see God move, seeing kids give their lives to Christ, playing a role in changing spiritual legacies, empowering and unleashing volunteers, weeping over kids, missing time with their own kids to spend time with yours, eating gross food, physical exhaustion, spiritual burn out and the extreme joy of being used by God.
And one more thing…
It is one of the most THANKLESS jobs on the planet
Yep, you heard me right!
Parents drop off and pick up their kids every Sunday morning, without a thank you.
Parents show their gratitude by saying “I don’t have the time to serve and help in kids/youth ministry”.
Parents use the excuse “working with kids, well…I’m just not called there.” (Should have thought about that before you had kids.)
Parents drop their kids off at youth group without ever shaking the youth guy’s hand and saying “thank you for investing in my son.”
So mom and dad, today I challenge you to…
STAND UP & HONOR YOUR KIDMIN/STUMIN/FAMMIN PASTOR
Here are 5 tips to get you started…
- TAKE 1 MINUTE: Find your kidmin/stumin/fammin pastor and take 1 minute to look them in the eye, thank them, appreciate them, love them, encourage them, pray for them and honor them. Be intentional and this will speak life into their soul.
- PRAY: Find your kidmin/stumin/fammin pastor and tell them you are committed to praying for his/her family every single day. Email them and ask them how you can pray for their family that week.
- SEND FLOWERS: Assuming your kidmin/stumin/fammin pastor is a male, send flowers to his spouse and thank her for the role she plays.
- KNOCK THEIR SOCKS OFF: We recently had a couple in our church (who had a cleaning business) clean our house once every two weeks. They literally knocked our socks off by their generosity. I’m not saying that you should pull out the toilet scrubber, but what can you do that would knock your kids pastor’s socks off?
- GIFT CARD: Being a kidmin/stumin/fammin pastor is one of the most eternally rewarding positions on the planet. However, it is NOT one of the most financially rewarding jobs on the planet. Bless your pastor by giving them a gift card to the Outback, Target or Wal-Mart…this will bless them and for many it is most certainly needed.
Give a shout out! Would you leave a comment and share your kidmin/stumin/fammin pastor’s name and give 1 quality you love about them?
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Thanks to my friend Michelle Clark for posting all week while I took some much needed R & R! I will see you buys back here Monday morning! Don’t forget to check out Michelle’s blog HERE.
Remember when you were growing up and you said you’d never ever do to your own children the things your parents did to you? Perhaps it was a vow you made to yourself in the midst of snot and tears as you slammed the door of your room so hard that it nearly shattered the windows? Well, my sixteen-year-old self would probably punch me in the face for doing so, but here’s me admitting to you that I am swallowing my own words. Yep, now that I’m a parent myself, I actually think my parents kind of had some pretty brilliant discipline ideas up their sleeves.
Most people know that teenage girls aren’t the easiest people to have living under the same roof as….well, anyone. They’re moody, they’re dramatic, and they take the longest showers on the friggin’ planet. This was ALWAYS a huge source of contention in my house. Our water heater wasn’t the biggest, and two showers running at the same time would put the thing right over the edge. Before you knew it, you were standing under a stream of ice cold H2O waiting for hypothermia to set in.
But given that I was a self-absorbed teenager who thought the world revolved around me and only me, I took my sweet old time with the shampooing and the shaving and the washing. I truly thought nothing at all of taking a thirty minute shower. This all changed, however, the day my mom decided to prove a point by completely shutting the entire hot water supply off right after I’d totally sudsed up my hair. You see, everyone knew not to flush the toilet during shower time. The showeree would immediately be left with ICE COLD water shooting down their bodies. As she was tired of my selfishness and flushed and left the bathroom, I was left standing there with soapy bubbles running straight into my eyes while my parents laughed their butts off outside the bathroom door. I jumped completely out of the shower the second the first bout of freezing water hit my head. But you can bet your booty that I sped up my bathing activities from that point forward!
I was also a big teenage fan of storming off to my bedroom and flinging my door shut as hard as was humanly possible. My irrational adolescent reasoning told me that this forceful statement of door slamming would surely show my parents just how P’d off their “unjust” actions had made me. Little did I know, though, that my dad had evidently been there, done that. He clearly knew how much I valued the privacy of my own room, so he proceeded to remove the entire door from its rightful hinges. And I soon learned just how hard it is to slam an invisible door.
Though I take my parenting seriously, I like to fast-forward a few years in my mind and imagine acting out these certain discipline gems on my own pair of stubborn monsters. My parents may have been infuriating at times, but some of their tactics were creative and effective. I know all children are different, but there are definitely some things that I need to store away for future “lesson-teaching”.
Deuteronomy 4:19 says: (Parents), be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.
So watch out, children of mine, cause I’ve got a personal book of go-to solutions to deal with your future behavior patterns. I sure as heck didn’t give them any credibility at the time that they were dished out to me, but I totally see the value in them now. Maybe my parents actually knew what they were doing after all….
My kids will tell you, I’m a big believer in “looking things up” when you’re not sure what they mean. I challenged my kids to do just that whenever homework or a book assignment forced them to ask about as specific word or meaning or place. Sometimes they would and sometimes they would whine a bit and say “Daaaaaaaad, just tell me!”
Looking at Easter and our upcoming celebration of Good Friday, I was praying - asking God to help me renew my appreciation of this Holy Day and I felt He led me to consider the word and concept of “Providence”. Ironically, my Heavenly father was telling me to “look it up” to be exact 
, just like I had with my kids… Here is what I found;
prov·i·dence
/ˈprɒvɪdəns/ [prov-i-duhns – “God, especially when conceived as omnisciently directing the universe and the affairs of humankind with wise benevolence.” (Dictionary.com -source) so to be extra clear… here is what omniscient means – having complete or unlimited knowledge, awareness, or understanding; perceiving all things.
Ok, now that’s starting to make more sense… Easter is the time of year we Christians are supposed to stop and appreciate the majesty and power of God Almighty to redeem and restore us (mankind) from all that has been and all that will ever be. We have the modern luxury of having a 20/20 perspective of those historical events. We already know how the story really turns out, but for those disciples and followers of Jesus in the moment, it was NOT a good place or time…things were not turning out well for them in the short-term… 
After three years of personal almost one on one times with Jesus, the twelve disciples had their lives flipped upside down and 180 from where they thought they were with Christ. Their Messiah (it seemed) had turned out to be totally human, capable of being deceived and politically manipulated into being a scapegoat and just another statistic of the Roman occupation of Israel. It appeared that Jesus was not who he claimed to be and that they (the disciples) had put their faith in a very sincere and dynamic Holy man, but in the end…just a man. Their disappointment, their frustration, confusion and their fear must have overwhelmed them. We know it did for Peter and Thomas, and with Judas betraying not only Jesus, but the other eleven…morale really could not have been much lower. Things were not turning out well…
Into this haze of disillusionment and fear, comes the reality of the Resurrection.
Jesus it turns out is in fact the Christ, He is the Messiah. His triumphant reunion with the disciples is well documented in the gospels, it is very specific, very intentional in the ways that He appears to them, addressing their individual doubts and fear and shame. He restores them all, touching and helping and encouraging them to pick up where they left off… more convinced than ever that Jesus is exactly who they thought, although His methods and manner is so different from any other King in History that it still puzzles them.
So what’s this got to do with… Providence?
Simply this… whatever your going through, whatever your feeling, whatever “seems” to be off the rails in your life, is still under the divine principle of Providence. God has not abandoned you, He has not walked away and left you to lie in a pile of your own poo, He is alive, living, active and working to restore and renew the things that have been broken in your life. He’s all about resurrecting the bones of our past failures into the new life and new hope of a redeemed future. It’s more than a metaphor. 
So this Easter, take a moment and reflect on the divine “Providence” of God in your life to date, remember how He has intervened in your life time after time to take care of you, to protect, provide and encourage you. He is constantly at work in our lives, healing our hurts and lifting our burdens, it’s just so hard sometimes to see those events from the prism of HOPE when we’re stuck in a life that has yet to be fully completed.
We can easily jump to the conclusion that because the things we want or have prayed for have yet to appear in our lives…(like the disciples after Jesus is killed) that God somehow has shrunk out of sight…that He just doesn’t have a role to play or won’t play in our lives. Nada, Nope, Not True… He’s there for you, behind the scenes, doing far more than we could ever ask or think in fact.
Let’s all make the effort this week to remember the WHOLE story of Easter. Remember the true nature of God and His divine “Providence” of life and truth as we consider the reality of who Jesus Christ is…one more time… only this year lets be sure to do so with Hope that comes from seeing the story within the story…with new eyes
No matter how difficult, tired or frustrated you may be… Easter is coming and it’s message is eternal and life-giving…a message of Divine Providence for you.
Peace out and Happy Easter from RTP!
brad.
Tagged: brad mathias, Christian parenting, Doubt, Easter, Faith, Family and Faith, Good Friday, Providence, Resurrection, Road Trip Parenting 
Another great post from my friend Michelle Clark. You can check out her blog HERE.
I heard a brilliant lyric the other night that has stuck with me: In the end, at least they’ll say “she tried.”
That’s the thing with parenting a child like Mr. Grouchy Pants. So much of it is sheer sticktoitiveness.
Waking up, every day, and just TRYING. Not necessarily succeeding. Often times failing. But always, always trying.
Quitting is so easy these days. You don’t like something? Quit. Hate your job? Get a new one. Tired of your marriage? Get a divorce. Sick of your facebook friends? Hide them. But parenting is one of those things that you just can’t quit. No matter how hard it is, no matter how badly it hurts, no matter how much you think you stink at the task. No matter how loud he yells or how painful his words. A mother can’t be a quitter.
I’m not gonna lie. I’ve thought about it. Who hasn’t?? When Grouch is in a rage and our world is upside down, I can think of a million places I’d rather be. There are times when I even say those words: I quit. Yep. I’ve said it. And I’ve run out the door and down the street. I’ve jumped in my car and driven out of the driveway. Because sometimes you just need to know you CAN.
And I raise my fist to heaven and ask God WHY and I squeeze my eyes tight hoping I’ll face a new reality when I open them. I shriek from the depths of my gut, a horrible, wailing sound; the cry of a woman in pain, in mourning for all that my life is and all that it was supposed to be.
And then, eventually, I lift my head. I open my eyes. I inhale, and exhale, and inhale again. And that little voice in my head, the one that speaks wisdom, says you can do this. You HAVE to do this. He is yours. You cannot quit him. . . . I never quit YOU.
It’s in these moments of spiritual revelation that I bask in. Just inhale and exhale and smile, knowing God has heard me. And though most days I have NO IDEA what I’m doing as a mom, He is the perfect parent. He knows my little monsters better than I do, inside and out. Knows their deepest desires and most precious needs. And within all that they are and all that they need out of this life, God gave them ME. . .He chose ME to parent. I will breathe, count to ten one last time, and trust that He knows what He’s doing.
I thank God that He is not a God of “Try”. He is a God of “Success”.
Today’s post is from my friend Michelle Clark. You can check out her blog HERE.
Why is it that kids will do just about anything in their capacity not to admit to certain things? It’s like they’d rather be attacked by a pack of angry trolls than to state the obvious. I don’t know about you, but my little sprouts flat out refuse to EVER acknowledge that they have to pee, that they’re tired, or that they need a dang Kleenex.
By far, out of all three of these things, the peeing is the absolute WORST. We’ll be out in public some place, and I will see one of them grab and squeeze his crotch for dear freaking life. This is often followed by some leg crossing and dancing and maybe even jumping up and down. And when I ask if said child needs to pee, 9 times out of 10 I am met with an immediate response of “NO!!!“, which I know full well is a crock of poo. So we play this whole back and forth power struggle game until all of a sudden, the kid is literally about to erupt into a full-on urine explosion, and we have to haul booty to the closest bathroom, whereby a trickling of pee may very well have already been left in someone’s underpants. At that point an “I told you so” isn’t even worth the breath it takes to form the words.
I also often deal with adamant denial that either child is ever sleepy. We may have walked to the ends of the earth, run a marathon of errands, swam a dozen oceans, and played every game under the moon from morning until night, but my wee ones would never in a million years acknowledge a need to rest their weary heads. Instead, it’s like they’ve chugged a case of Red Bull and have transformed into the Tasmanian Devil, bouncing off every wall in their path. They spin out of control until they literally crash into a pile of tears and hysterics on the floor over the absolute most insignificant thing on the planet. They work themselves into such a tizzy that they then can’t fall asleep even if they want to. It’s a vicious cycle that makes me very grateful to have wine kool-aid in the house.
And finally, there’s the continuous refusal to ask for a Kleenex. Snot could be dripping out a nostril right onto one or the other’s upper lip, and neither kid would ever even think about getting a tissue. Instead, they would rather let it continue to run down their chins, or better yet, they’ll just wipe it on their sleeves. Because really, what else are sleeves for? And sometimes, if I’m SUPER lucky, I’ll have the privilege of receiving a little snot souvenir of my own, which is AWESOME when I’m out and about before I realize that I’ve got dried boogers on my shoulder.
Truthfully though, we as parents do this very same thing. How many times have we held in questions from our supportive mom-friends for fear that we would look like we didn’t know what we were doing? Heaven forbid we should gain a little knowledge from those that have walked this treacherous parenting road before us. Isn’t this whole gig supposed to “take a village”? Sometimes it’s pride and fear of embarrassement, but other times we don’t admit we need a little help for the same reason our little snots don’t stop to ask for a Kleenex. They don’t realize they are in need. They are so busy and excited and oblivious to see what is right in front of their nose (pun intended!). I’m more convinced that God never planned on us doing this parenthood thing alone. That’s why in an ideal situation, it takes TWO parents. Sometimes our partners are on board, sometimes not. Sometimes we need all the help we can get! I think in general it’s time to start recruiting more help on the homefront! Admit when we’re clueless, defeated, and are about to “pee our pants” in frustration. Take inventory of our lives on occassion to see if that “kleenex” is needed. Realize that the woes of parenthood could be a growing experience for us as well as our little monsters.
I also suppose that all these annoying parts of parenting are just payback from when I was growing up and did the exact same thing to my own parents. I’m sure that I peed on my fair share of public restroom floors, kicked and screamed my way through an exhaustion meltdown or two, and stuck a boatload of nose goblins on my mom’s shirt sleeves through the years. I have no doubt that my parents are now sitting back and watching the show unfold and thinking how what goes around really does come around. I can’t wait to be the grandparent.
