Ah-Ha Moments

Boy we have had a week of them!

First was a BIG one for me - WHY, WHY, have I been trying to put Joseph down for a nap right after lunch (because that is what we have done since he went to just one nap a day shortly after Isabelle was born!) when Isabelle is just getting up for morning nap?!? By the time he is getting up, Isabelle is going back down and I feel I am getting NOTHING done all afternoon! He is not that tired at that point and fights me on it anyway... So new plan - Do afternoon chores right after lunch then put both down (if Joseph needs it that day) at the SAME time. DUH!

We were having Prayer and Scripture time at the beginning of school the other day and the kids provided me with such a wonderful realization... We were talking about how Jesus is "The Lamb of God." Joseph starts singing "Mary had a Little Lamb." At first I was getting rather annoyed. He is not paying any attention to me and I am trying to teach him... Then it came to me, wonderful as the Holy Spirit is, Mary did have a little LAMB. Mary had THE LAMB! He IS PAYING attention!!! Mary had a little lamb, whose fleece was WHITE as snow... I so went with it! We talked about it and how it did apply. I got down the statue that I have of Mary hold baby Jesus and a lamb, and how Jesus was pure and clean (white as snow!), and how Jesus is always with us (Every where Mary went the Lamb was sure to go), and on and on... I know Katherine got more out of it, but what an amazing thing to happen... All because my dear sweet Joseph was "annoying" me! It made me really think about other things too...

Lastly... Thanks to the wonderful input from my sister and several friends we are starting to work seriously with "Parenting the Strong-Willed Child." I love these kids and the younger two are STRONG WILLED. But I do not want to break that will! I want them to learn to think for themselves, stand up for themselves and others, and be leaders NOT just follow what they are told! Talked to Robert about it last night as well and how I learned a lot of the skills while in school for Early Childhood Education/Child Development and I could do the EXACT things with other peoples children with NO PROBLEMS - but I had a horrible time doing the SAME thing with my own kids! I love my own children more and yet I cannot give them the same thing, and the thing that they need most from me. I cried... So we are going to make a conscious effort to do it TOGETHER!

With all of this today has gone much smoother, with a lot less fighting, arguing, and a TON less stress! Hopefully it will continue. :)