Friday, February 24, 2012
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Gifts
The sermon at church this morning was about how children are gifts from God and we need to appreciate them while they are under our care. The pastor estimated that we have about sixteen years of influence since teenagers stop listening at age sixteen. That means I only have thirteen and half years left!
Dave and I tried to remember this as we drove home and E. was yelling "Open it!" at the top of his lungs. He made a magnet in the nursery and thought it opened somehow. It didn't, but no amount of reasoning could change his mind.
The message would have been even more difficult to apply had we heard it Friday. We took E. to a children's museum. They were having a special one dollar admission deal so it was packed. Nevertheless, while we were there, I was feeling good as a parent and commented to Dave that it was nice to do something fun for just E. since we are always dragging him to the grocery store, bank, butcher, etc. We even thought that maybe we would make it a once a month tradition. That was until we got in the car to make the one hour trip home.
E. cried almost the entire way from where we dragged him away from the digging area in the museum to our front door. I offered him Cheerios, which mercifully made him quiet for about five minutes. Then he started screaming when the Cheerios ran out. This happened again with the raisins. He was so tired, he didn't even know what he was crying about anymore. I got hit with one of his shoes (we took the other one away) and then two socks. I can say the kid has good aim: three for three in the back of Mommy's head.
I do agree that children are gifts, but sometimes I'd like to take that gift and wrap it up for a little while and open it again when the crying, whining, throwing stop.
Dave and I tried to remember this as we drove home and E. was yelling "Open it!" at the top of his lungs. He made a magnet in the nursery and thought it opened somehow. It didn't, but no amount of reasoning could change his mind.
The message would have been even more difficult to apply had we heard it Friday. We took E. to a children's museum. They were having a special one dollar admission deal so it was packed. Nevertheless, while we were there, I was feeling good as a parent and commented to Dave that it was nice to do something fun for just E. since we are always dragging him to the grocery store, bank, butcher, etc. We even thought that maybe we would make it a once a month tradition. That was until we got in the car to make the one hour trip home.
E. cried almost the entire way from where we dragged him away from the digging area in the museum to our front door. I offered him Cheerios, which mercifully made him quiet for about five minutes. Then he started screaming when the Cheerios ran out. This happened again with the raisins. He was so tired, he didn't even know what he was crying about anymore. I got hit with one of his shoes (we took the other one away) and then two socks. I can say the kid has good aim: three for three in the back of Mommy's head.
I do agree that children are gifts, but sometimes I'd like to take that gift and wrap it up for a little while and open it again when the crying, whining, throwing stop.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Brrrr
It's awfully cold in our house. . . We are in between heating systems right now. (Long story).
I want to write about our experience, but I'm having a little trouble finding the humor in it all. . .
So far I have come up with three bright sides:
1. We're doing more snuggling at our house, mostly for survival, but it's nice none-the-less.
2. I'm baking more. I use whatever excuse I can to use the oven and then I leave the door open afterwards. The warmth floods the kitchen. And then we feast on muffins, bread, cookies, etc. Extra benefit: packing on more insulation.
3. I am encouraging Dave to use his vanpool, which saves us money. Right now we're slumbering in E.'s room on a twin bed so the three of us can share a space heater. By the time five-thirty rolls around I send a few nudges his way and subtly groan when he hits the snooze. It works every time. Then I luxuriate in all the extra space. Hey, it seems like a lot when you've had about 1/3 of a twin bed all night.
That's all I got. I'm off to make some hot chocolate.
I want to write about our experience, but I'm having a little trouble finding the humor in it all. . .
So far I have come up with three bright sides:
1. We're doing more snuggling at our house, mostly for survival, but it's nice none-the-less.
2. I'm baking more. I use whatever excuse I can to use the oven and then I leave the door open afterwards. The warmth floods the kitchen. And then we feast on muffins, bread, cookies, etc. Extra benefit: packing on more insulation.
3. I am encouraging Dave to use his vanpool, which saves us money. Right now we're slumbering in E.'s room on a twin bed so the three of us can share a space heater. By the time five-thirty rolls around I send a few nudges his way and subtly groan when he hits the snooze. It works every time. Then I luxuriate in all the extra space. Hey, it seems like a lot when you've had about 1/3 of a twin bed all night.
That's all I got. I'm off to make some hot chocolate.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Friday, February 3, 2012
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