Two steps forward

and one step back. As a parent, some days are more challenging than others, but the days where I feel I've lost ground, that is hard. Now I know, nothing is really undone, but it can feel like it at the time. This is the one thing that makes parenting such hard work. I keep thinking they'll be 'done' with some of the behaviors that drive me nuts. Our kids are so beyond blessed with more toys than they need, more food than they can eat, more freedom than they know what to do with and more yes's than no's. Sometimes we shoot ourselves in the foot, giving them way too much. (We're on a drive-thru fast!)

Yet I think because I teach and re-teach, patient day after day... "Could you please not grab; ask your brother nicely for that toy. Yes, you do need to share." and "Stop chasing the chickens!!! No, you cannot hit the duck over the head with the sword. Don't you remember what happened just yesterday???" But hey, we're all like that aren't we? Learning, growing and hopefully changing, vowing to never make the same mistake again, yet only all too often only days will go by before we find ourselves back in the same position. So if as adults, we fall over and over and have to get back up and seek God's grace and mercy, why shouldn't our children?

Then there are the times where I'm amazed by kindness one brother shows to another or some great unselfishness that makes smile and I'm proud to be their mother. I am raising sweet boys that will grow to be amazing husbands and fathers; I'm confident of that. Truly the bad days are few and far between, but when I see certain behaviors growing which I feel powerless to change, I feel defeated. I'm sure I'm not the only one who thought their young child was incapable of doing the same terrible thing twice. I just find it hard to know what is just "boy" behavior and what is behavior that cannot be tolerated and what needs consequences. I think I need to dust off my "Bringing up Boys" book again. I'm also currently reading "The Mission of Motherhood: Touching Your Childs Heart for Eternity" and finding it rewarding. Anyway, writing out this reminder is good for me... if we, as adults, aren't going to be "finished" until we meet our Lord face to face, how can our children possibly be?