Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Parenting is Hard

Parenting can be so hard. I have two precious daughters, but there were some irritating behavioral issues that we dealt with today, and by bedtime I had had enough.

I lost my temper with my oldest and then had my heart broken as she crawled into bed sniffling because I had talked to her in a "mean voice." It was a yucky way to the end the day.

It is so frustrating that it almost always happens at the end of the day. I can have a wonderful day and feel like supermom and then lose my cool and patience in that last stretch of the day. That last half hour of getting the kids to bed is the worst.

I remember my mom telling me that she would often pray for my brother and me, "Lord, you raise them because I don't know what I'm doing."

I feel like that so often. I want so much to do it "right." I'm so thankful that I can run to God and say, "Help. You have to do this because I don't know what I'm doing," and He will.

I love being a mom. It is also the role in my life where I can feel the most insecure. I am so thankful that Jesus covers where I fail. : ) And I'm thankful that He gave me such good kids.

5 comments:

Owlhaven said...

I love your mom's prayer. SO true.

Mary, mom to many

Hilty Sprouts said...

Your mom's prayer has stuck with me since the first time I heard you talk about it. I can totally relate. I hate losing my cool with my kids and it seems to happen too much! Like you, I'm glad God gives us a fresh start every day and makes our kids resilient!

Jen

Anonymous said...

He did raise you too. Mom

missy said...

I am convinced that mothering is where Satan attacks me the hardest because he knows this is how we further God's kingdom, through raising our children. We can have victory though by praying exactly like your mother did. I always ask Jesus to cloud the memories in the minds of my children of the times I failed and keep alive and fresh the memories of when I honored him in my motherhood.
Love,
Missy

Mrs. MK said...

Very good post! I know I feel the same way about those last moments before bed----they can either be sweet and humble, or just downright ugly! It is a challenge, that's for sure!

No one said it was easy---so why did I think it would be?