Lessons in Parenting

Little M and Uncle Forrest

 

When I was newly married, we lived near one of my older sisters. She was the first of us to have any kids, and at the time that this story takes place she had a two-year-old daughter and a newborn little girl. She would come into town to do some shopping and if I wasn't in class or at track practice, I would tag along and play with the girls while she shopped. On one of these occasions, we were driving from one place to another. My sister was driving, I was in the passenger seat and the girls were, of course, in the back. Sweet little M, the two-year-old, was really upset about something and she was crying and kicking and screaming and crying. My sister asked her several times to relax, to which M finally got so exasperated that she threw her sippy cup in the direction of her mom. My sister immediately pulled the car over to the side of the road, opened her door, and marched around to the other side to talk to her daughter. I looked back at little M who's face was covered in tears. She looked absolutely terrified. I whispered to her "Uh oh, you're really in trouble now!" As my sister opened the door to talk to her tantrum-throwing, sobbing child, I fully expected her to get a swat on the bottom and a good talking to. But what my sister said and did that day is something I will never, ever forget. She climbed into the back seat next to her daughter, put her arms around her and gently said, "Little M, I love you so much. Will you please tell me what is wrong?" I don't remember what exactly it was that was upsetting M. Something small and silly to us, probably, but I do remember that after her mom acknowledged her and tried to resolve what was bothering her, there was far less crying and tantrum throwing for the remainder of the drive.

Now, 6 years later, I find myself in a position similar to my sister's all too often. Whether we are in the car, at home, or visiting some friends, it seems like somebody is always crying or upset about something. Though I'm not always successful, I try to repress my feelings of frustration and show instead my love and concern for my children as I try to help them overcome the challenge (however small and silly it may be) that they are facing.

I am so grateful for my sister and the example that she showed me that day. I hope that one day I can be half the mom that she is!

Happy Moments

Last week I was challenged by a friend to list three happy moments every day for a week. I got busy and didn't get a week straight, but here are seven days' worth of my happy moments:

Going to Swiss Days with my mom and sisters

Watching Charlie and Caroline show off their dance moves

Reading a letter from Forrest

Making it to church just in time to take the Sacrament

Seeing Charlie and Caroline smile when I picked them up from nursery

Talking to Forrest on the phone for the first time in 3 weeks

Picking peas in the garden with Charlie and watching his smile as he ate them, pod and all

Canning peaches with my mom and sister

Watching Caroline crack herself up during dinner

Sleeping past 7:30 AM

Walking through my parents jungle of a garden and discovering a zucchini bigger than my thigh

Making Charlie giggle by chasing him up the stairs

Waking up at 2 AM to get my niece a drink of water because she was "too thirsty to sleep"

Watching Charlie and Caroline sit outside in their diapers and devour a whole peach each

Having the babes nap during dinner so I actually got to eat a full, uninterrupted meal

Going to lunch with my sisters and grandpa

Watching Caroline wave at everyone and everything she sees

Seeing Charlie walk through our courtyard behind his walking toy

Making it to the halfway mark of Forrest's training

Looking at a family picture and asking Caroline "where's mommy?" and seeing her point right to me