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mara williams
on Jun 18 2013 - 06:00 AM
Hey, manchild, mama says: clean your room, wash the dishes, don't drink and drive.
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Emily Parnell
on Jun 16 2013 - 06:00 AM
Eating fresh, local produce is good for body and soul
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Jim Cosgrove
on Jun 13 2013 - 06:00 AM
I just want to buy some pants. Please, turn down the music.
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So I was having a moment, one of those where I wonder if one of the boys has truly been raised by wolves. That somehow, crazy wolf people have invaded our home and done the lion's (or lupine's) share of the parenting as my husband and I, oh I don't know, went shopping. Maybe to dinner.
Because surely, our parenting hasn't produced these lovely tantrums of our almost-5-year-old.
He kicks these days when he's not happy. He says “I don't care about anything.” And for good measure he crosses his arms in front of his chest and says “Hmppph,” whenever we tell him to do something he doesn't want to do.
Wolves, I tell you.
While I was having this moment yesterday afternoon, standing alone in the kitchen having just put him down for a nap, the phone rings. I was going to let the machine get it, but I figure, hey, it'll get my mind off my failure as a parent.
“Mrs. Strait?”
This always throws me for a loop. Because of the whole keeping my maiden name thing, I'm not often called Mrs. anything. So I immediately think it's a telemarketer and curse myself for answering the phone.
But, oh, how happy I would be.
Turns out this was one of the Sunday school teachers that regularly has our youngest in class. (The one occasionally being raised by wolves.)
And she just wanted to call and tell us what a wonderful boy we have.
Go on.
Turns out before youngest had his prolonged fit when we got home, he had been quite a bit better at church, where I guess it really counts.
Long story short, we went to late church because I didn't get home until almost 2 a.m. yesterday (nothing exotic, just work) and getting up for 9:15 service just wasn't happening. When we got to the late one, the Sunday school classes combined for some reason. Youngest was with kids ages 3-5 instead of just the 4-year-olds.
As he went off to read a book on his own (he didn't want to color with a recently injured finger) a little 3-year-old was missing his mom and was about to tear up. Our regular Sunday school teacher (one of our son's favorites) noticed our guy sitting quietly over there and asked if he would read to the one missing his mom.
“Sure,” our son says.
As she's telling me this on the phone, my mouth is wide open and I'm wondering if this teacher has telepathy or something. How in world did she know I needed this call? Right at this very moment!!!
Maybe there was still hope.
She went on to say she kept watching the two and before long the little one missing his mom was intently listening to our little guy “read” him a story.
I can't remember if she said the other boy had his head on our son's shoulder, or if it looked as it he was about to do that. Doesn't matter.
Our little guy stepped in to help someone else. He didn't kick anyone. Yell that “I don't care about anything.” Or cross his arms in front of his chest once. At least she didn't tell me he did.
“I just called,” she continued on the phone. “To tell you what a wonderful Christian thing your son did today.”
Now first, how nice is this lady? So often when we see people do good things, we don't call anyone on it. Only when it's bad. But she went out of her way this Sunday to call and say something nice. Just when we needed it most.
Second, maybe our parenting isn't so off after all. Not that we had anything to do with his kindness, but I think we had a little influence on the whole sitting quietly and reading. (OK, maybe not that either, but at least give me something.)
That one phone call turned a cruddy afternoon into something wonderful. And if wolves have been raising our son after all, maybe I should cut them a little slack. Because yesterday our little guy sure did do a really nice thing for another little guy who needed it.
Oooh! What a wonderful story! My mother always said be happy if your child acts up at home, but not in public because it'd be worse if it were the other way around. So true! Good reminder the kids are absorbing things, just not always demonstrating it at home where they feel safe. Excellent story to start my Monday. Thanks!I think tantrums are our kid's way of trying to manipulate us. It just goes to show that all the training we do with them does pay off and they do listen, even if they don't show it at home! :)Thank God for nice people who will tell you when your kids are being GOOD for once! I know you gave your wolf-like son a big hug for that one! And (((((hugs))))) for you, for putting up with a sweet kid who has monstrous moments (as every kid does).This reminds me how our DS is. He always behaves in school. Does what he is suppose to and never gives the teachers trouble. At home, it takes 4 or 5 times telling him to do something before he does it. Although he never really pitched tantrums he loves debating everything. And never follows rules like how long he is suppose to play on his PS 3. At 15 he is doing great in HS and most of the other BS just doesn't matter anymore. He is a good kind, and has earned 3 trips out of the country with teachers because I know he knows how to do as he is told and stay out of trouble even if he doesn't do it for his parents.
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