Raising Redheads.
It's like the most wonderful blessing and most difficult task rolled into one big, yummy bag of goods. It's like the last bite of food that you take that is so good but you're almost too full to swallow it so you spit it out...
Oh, you don't do that? Never mind.
Yesterday was a tough day for me raising these redheads. Taking care of Braden has always been the most difficult part of my parenting. He is still just as difficult as he ever was, only now he is stronger. Smarter.
He can't control his body, he's impulsive, he talks non stop and he argues all day. Yesterday he wanted to 'wear a nightgown' like Nora. So he wouldn't put any underwear or pants on all morning. This part confuses me but whatevs. Anyway, minutes later he yells from the living room..."I pooped!"
I ran in and said, "What do you mean you pooped?"
And sure enough, the child has poop running down his legs. In the living room. On the plus side, he pooped on a book so cleanup was fairly easy.
Sigh. I thought we were past this.
He's so cute yet so difficult. He's still a lion every single day, without fail. He doesn't respond well to any sort of discipline that we have tried and I feel like I'm at a loss.
What I know for sure is this: No matter how hard it is to raise this little boy, as long as he grows up knowing that name of Jesus -- that is all that matters to me.
That will make every loud, annoying, poopy day worth it to me.
Right now, as I type, I can hear him confessing all of his bad behaviors to our Elf on the shelf. He said sorry for not listening and explained that he was having a hard time obeying.
He understands but I just don't know that he can help it.
.....................................
I haven't been out of the house in a couple of days. It's been hard around here. Mabel has gone back into her night cry at full speed. Last night it was 1:30 am before she fell asleep (after crying since 10pm). The two nights before that, it was 2:30 am. It's hard and sad. She won't let me console her--she just has to cry it out. So we will be starting her on some liquid melatonin (a natural chemical that our body releases anyway) to see if it will help get her to sleep at night. We don't think it's a reaction of her medicines because she takes the exact same ones in the morning and does fine throughout the day. It's something about the night that sets her body into a complete fit.
I'm ready to wake up and feel rested and I'm ready for my girl to have some energy for other things besides just crying.
I'm hoping for a better day. This weekend is Daniel's weekend off and we're having some of the guys from work and their families over for dinner tomorrow. Looking forward to catching up with old friends and spending time with new ones!
sigh. The boy is beckoning me.
2 comments:
Praying for you. I believe that God has mighty plans for that redhead adorable boy of yours! I think the enemy knows it too.
I have been so tempted to start Jamesy on melatonin, too! Please, please let me know how it goes. Jamesy takes beautiful naps (most of the time). No idea what his sleep issues at night are about, and there are definite issues. Ug. I feel your pain.
I have just begun raising a house of redheads with my rambunctious almost 3 year old. Redheads are God's gift of teaching enduring patience. ;)
With every moment of wild, impulsive craziness, my daughter brings a genuine moment of sincere love and bounding light. I often think of the song "This little light of mine" and how my daughter's red hair and personality just make her a burning flame instead of a little light of God's love.
Prayers to you and yours. I love your writing.
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