Sabbath is a Happy Day

Today was a special day in many ways. When Hope woke up this morning, I went in and snuggled with her for a little bit. She said, "I love you," and gave me a big hug. I hugged her back and said, "I love you too." Then she said, "I'm a part of your life." Of course, I agreed wholeheartedly. I don't know where she got that from.

Before we got up and started getting ready for the day, I decided to walk Hope through what was going to happen. I told her everything that would happen and what I expected of her in each setting. Then we got up, ate breakfast, took a shower, got dressed and went to church (with a slight detour on the way to help a friend who was lost). At church, Hope sat quietly beside Robbie for the whole church service.

Then, Hope, Haven and I went to Hope's Sabbath School. I don't know if Hope remembered our conversation from earlier in the morning, but she behaved herself very well, and did not attempt to hug any unsuspecting children (she loves to hug other kids, and does it without their permission. We're working on that.).

After Sabbath school, we came home, ate lunch, read some stories, and Hope took a nap. I had told her all about needing to take a nap and that after her nap we would get ready and go to her cousin, Leila's, 1st birthday party. In our conversation in the early morning, I had told her how I expected her to act at Leila's birthday party. When she woke up from her nap we got ready and went to the birthday party.

Hope behaved herself so well. I am very glad that I prepared her ahead of time for today. We stayed late to watch the end of the Rangers game, and Hope did not have any major meltdowns until the very end when the cat scared her.

It was a happy day today. It was busy, but happy. So, I go from one day where the end makes me feel like an unfit mother to the next day feeling that with the Lord's help I am teaching and training my child well. I am sorry for yesterday and grateful for today.

Now for  a little bit of bragging:

Haven will be three months old on the first of November. Already she is smiling (since she was about four weeks old), cooing (for at least a month already), rolling over from belly to back consistently, rolling over from back to belly occasionally, bearing her weight on her legs while in standing position (being held of course, she still has no balance), laughing occasionally, and holding her head steady. According to one developmental milestone chart, Haven is extremely advanced in several areas. Oh, she also brings her hands together and bats at toys. We can see in her eyes, and how she is always watching and observing, that she is a very intelligent little girl.

Okay, enough bragging. But I am very happy with our children. I praise the Lord for giving such blessings in our lives. Father, please give us wisdom to raise these girls to know and love You. Thank you, Father, for this happy Sabbath day.

Thoughts from Today...

I don't even know how to start this... I have so many thoughts running through my head at the moment. For one thing, I am very thankful for the Sabbath and that I can just be, and remember the One who made me. Having two children increases the amount of effort it takes to just take it easy on Sabbath.

I very rarely feel like I am a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad mother. Today I did feel that way.

Honestly, sometimes I feel like we do not allow Hope to be a carefree child enough. Sometimes, I would just love to let her be, without constantly guarding and watching and cautioning and correcting. Sometimes I feel like I am just too hard on her. She is not even three years old yet.

Then, I learn that I do not discipline enough. I let Hope get away with too much. Don't ask me how I learned this, but believe me, I learned. And this was not something that I learned on my own. So now I just feel inadequate. Where is the happy medium? How do I teach my child about boundaries, kind ways of playing and what is appropriate and inappropriate? Are timeouts not enough? Is spanking too much?

I AM NOT ASKING FOR ADVICE... These are only my thoughts.

On a happier note, I also learned today that I am able to squeeze back in to my size 6 prematernity pants. Yay! I still have plenty of other things to work on besides my pant size though, including my parenting.

Oh Lord, please be my guide. Help  me to lead my children and train them well. Help me to lead them to You.