Would I be lying if I said that staying home is easy?
It's harder than I ever thought it could possibly be.
Long hours.
No nights or weekends off.
Would I be a horrible mom if I said that there have been {recent} times that I've thought 'I don't want to have any more children' {because I don't want to experience this again}?
Sometimes this job is so hard,
I think 'I couldn't possibly want to do this again.'
Would I be wrong if I thought this job, being a mom, was really a way that God wants to continue to grow and to mold {prune really} my character?
I've never seen the ugliest side of my
selfish nature like I have these last 6 months.
Tonight was a rough one. For what ever reason sleep was fought. It was fought the strongest it's been fought so far. There were tears involved, by both of us. As much as I am against CIO methods, it got to a point where I'm not sure that it mattered if I was holding and bouncing her or if she was laying in her crib. The crying was intense.
As difficult as it is to admit, I lost my temper in the form of a growl of frustration. This in turn only sent the already on-the-verge-of-hystarical upset E into a startled uproar. Let me just say that it was not pretty. And I'm not proud of my lowest moments.
At this point I just had to stop. I turned on the dim light {the one we use in the night only if we need to see, it's actually a blue light bulb} and unwrapped E from her wrap that she sleeps in. She slowly started to settle down. However, no matter how I tried I could not get her to look at me. We sat in the glider and she leaned on me, completely relaxed, but wouldn't look at me for anything in the world.
After we rocked for a few minutes, in complete silence, my heart was softened and I couldn't hold back so instead I full on apologized for losing my temper. I kissed my sweet girl's head and caressed her foot {which she was using to distractingly play with the arm of the chair}. She looked up at me, only after I had apologized, and we finally made eye contact. She gave me a smile, her toothless grin that melted my heart like never before. Her little hand reached up and touched my mouth and she said something in her 'baby-talk.' And I knew that she had forgiven me. We had made up.
It was the sweetest exchange I had ever experienced.
We continued to rock and to quietly play together. And it was then and there that I decided to always, no matter what has taken place between us, to always apologize and ask for her forgiveness. To never ever let a wronging on my part go with out making it right. Making it right in her eyes, and in the Lord's eyes.
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Psalm 127:3
6 comments:
Every other day I decide in my mind that I'm done having children because I feel that I can't handle any more of "this" or "that". Yet the thought of having no more children makes my heart sad.
Being a mom truly is the hardest job in the world, but also the most rewarding! This was a great post!
(((Hugs))) Hon, we've all been there at some point, over something. It's especially hard when you are deprived of sleep, don't beat yourself up over it. Kids are pretty forgiving :) Glad E accepted your apology and remember, if mommy needs a timeout, E crying in her crib for a few minutes so you can step outside and breath, is never wrong! Sometimes it helps to just step back, breathe, cry, whatever you need to do to get that 2nd wind. Good luck and way to "bold" blog!
I love this. Man, have I had those days. But then I think about how they'll be grown up so soon and I try to cherish every second. (Which can be hard at 2 am when you haven't had a good night's sleep in weeks!).
Thank you for sharing yourself with us!
This is such a poignant story...and it brings back the sweetest memories: of holding the sweetest, most cherished little baby girl in my arms and passing from a feeling of total frustration--and desperation!--into a feeling of total, unrequited, unconditional love. You are so incredibly hard on yourself...you are a wonderful Mommy! And because of your intense desire to raise your baby the way God wants you to, you will not fail! Because HE is faithful to complete the good work He began in you and He has given you the victory. Oh, my precious daughter, it warms my heart to know you are experiencing the same tender moments you and I shared when you were so tiny. I love you more than you will ever know, my dear!
I love this. Man, have I had those days. But then I think about how they'll be grown up so soon and I try to cherish every second. (Which can be hard at 2 am when you haven't had a good night's sleep in weeks!).
Thank you for sharing yourself with us!
(((Hugs))) Hon, we've all been there at some point, over something. It's especially hard when you are deprived of sleep, don't beat yourself up over it. Kids are pretty forgiving :) Glad E accepted your apology and remember, if mommy needs a timeout, E crying in her crib for a few minutes so you can step outside and breath, is never wrong! Sometimes it helps to just step back, breathe, cry, whatever you need to do to get that 2nd wind. Good luck and way to "bold" blog!
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