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Mommy always wins.


Mommy does always win! ...if that's the approach she takes. I've been working to refresh my resolve to always win, to expect and nurture towards high standards, even in little ways. {I'm also making an effort to be sure I'm not working to be nagging, picky, or set unrealistic expectations...}

I had heard the phrase "creating a monster", and always thought I wasn't doing that- however, when my 2nd little boy came along, I began to make some consistent exceptions to my own rules. I thought I was doing that to protect my sanity {life has been in the fast lane!}, but recently I have come to a screeching halt, realizing that I was encouraging bad habits in my little boys- making my job harder!

Most of the changes I've made are in their sleeping habits. Jonathan always went down well, but would play in his bed for upwards of an hour each night. Henry went down after much rocking, and liked to have a fan, be in his own bed, in his own room. I'm sure you're starting to see the "monster"s I'm talking about. I KNOW kids adapt to what we expect of them {within reason, of course}, but I hadn't been willing to fight the small battles early on to avoid bigger ones later! Now I'm expecting my boys to sleep in the same room, not to depend on a fan, and to go to bed quietly, the very first time. It's required some stubbornness on my part, but they're doing it!

What spurred the change: I've been pretty distracted spiritually for about the last year. It's not that I've doubted God, been mad at God... it's just that I've been busy with life. I could blame it on a tough baby, moving, remodeling, buying a business, whatever. But the bottom line is, I've been allowing myself to get caught up in the duties God has given me, passing by the God that gave me life, and gave life to me to care for! I've been reminded:

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace."

And in turning my eyes upon Him once again, it gives me the freedom and strength to renew my resolve to raise my kids and love my husband in the way that is most glorifying to God {and best for them!}, instead of short-cutting. It refreshes my joy and awe at who God has entrusted me to care for, and reminds me of who I am in the first place: a daughter that God has set HIS heart to love and care for, always.

As I ,"Mommy", am working to "always win" with my kids, I'm also working to not take short-cuts in my spiritual life. It's amazing how those two parallel... and amazing how God DESIGNED those parallels! He does, after all, want us to call Him Father!

{This photo is this afternoon when the boys woke up together from their nap- which they obediently took, at Mommy's request.}

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