I don't have many days that I would call hard. I believe that is due to teaching my children how to control their behavior (the increasingly rare thing called self-discipline) and also because I try to keep a positive attitude.
Hannah is teething. You can see two of those teeth in the picture above. She is working on the top two simultaneously and they are giving her a fit. She is also in a growth spurt, so she's hungry often. Clint and I have been woken up 2-3 times a night for a couple of weeks now. I tried to sleep in later yesterday and today, but it did not work. Clint doesn't have that option so he's feeling it...and we are both looking it! Our attempts to go to bed early have failed every night. So this afternoon, when he gets home we have something very special and very anticipated planned. We are going to take a nice, long nap together. We are at the point in where we laugh together at these hard days. Last night, we made certain we laid our heads down QUIETLY on the pillows since that seemed to be the main trigger to wake Hannah up. :-D
Younger moms and dads, when you have bad days come, and they will, remember they are normal part of parenthood. Babies teethe and go through growth spurts. Children get cranky when they are tired, ill or fed an improper diet. Other people fail and hurt us. Just slow down, thank God you have a spouse and children in your life and do what you can. Be quick to call upon the Lord for help and strength. It's OK to every once in a while take a day off and regroup. Some days I'll take a couple of hours or entire day and spend some time working outside in the yard or reading depending on my energy level.
You can't set a good example of how to live for Christ to your children if you are mean spirited because things aren't going your way. That is the mark of selfishness and immaturity. God uses these trying times to grow us in character. When you do fail, you need to ask God to forgive you, help you be better and then apologize to those you hurt. The humility it takes to repent and apologize is a mark of a sincere heart seeking growth and restored relationships.
Now, it is time for lunch and then hopefully the babies will sleep so I can do some reading with Caleb and Bethany ...and daydream a little about my upcoming nap!
Give unto the LORD the glory due unto His name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. Psalm 29:2
