Brooklyn had a little bit of a rough day. Early in the morning she deliberately dropped a toy on my foot. And I do mean deliberately. On her way to school, she misunderstood our plans for the evening and burst into tears. Finally when we picked her up after a fun filled evening with Nana, shopping, Chuck E Cheese, and decorating for Christmas, she went wildly out of control when asked to get her shoes on.
At least two apologies and a spanking later, we were on our way home.
Sometime during her bath I realized she could not handle any of her normal responsibilities, and we may be heading towards another melt down. I called for reinforcements and took on more of the things Brooklyn usually does.
During our prayer time, we led her to ask for forgiveness, but it wasn't until later in the routine that I saw true repentance. Just before we turned out the lights, Brooklyn said in her usual "confession" tone, "I have something to tell you". She then proceeded to apologize for her her three bad attitudes. It was the first time all day that she felt remorse on her own, and I was touched by her apology.
I started going through all the reasons why she may be acting out. She's been sick the last few weeks and maybe isn't feeling completely like herself. Grayson, though still unborn, has been getting a lot of attention, and he's a boy, which I'm not sure she is completely at peace with yet. But really I think she is feeling the effects of being overindulged. She is so smart and helpful, and being the first born, it is so easy to overburden her with responsibility. It's also very easy to bend the rules, make exceptions...in other words lax on the boundaries! At the end of the day, we have to remember that she is a little girl and she needs those boundaries.
At least two apologies and a spanking later, we were on our way home.
Sometime during her bath I realized she could not handle any of her normal responsibilities, and we may be heading towards another melt down. I called for reinforcements and took on more of the things Brooklyn usually does.
During our prayer time, we led her to ask for forgiveness, but it wasn't until later in the routine that I saw true repentance. Just before we turned out the lights, Brooklyn said in her usual "confession" tone, "I have something to tell you". She then proceeded to apologize for her her three bad attitudes. It was the first time all day that she felt remorse on her own, and I was touched by her apology.
I started going through all the reasons why she may be acting out. She's been sick the last few weeks and maybe isn't feeling completely like herself. Grayson, though still unborn, has been getting a lot of attention, and he's a boy, which I'm not sure she is completely at peace with yet. But really I think she is feeling the effects of being overindulged. She is so smart and helpful, and being the first born, it is so easy to overburden her with responsibility. It's also very easy to bend the rules, make exceptions...in other words lax on the boundaries! At the end of the day, we have to remember that she is a little girl and she needs those boundaries.
So very thankful that I have a wife who is such a wonderful mother. I could not have asked God for a better teammate in parenting.
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