"You are my best friend"
Eric said that to me the other day when I was buckling him into his carseat. He was so sincere and the sweet look that was on his face when he said that was precious. I treasure these times as a parent. He wasn't looking for anything in particular, I think he just wanted to tell me his thoughts.
A few days later I would not let him get his way, and I dont think he saw me in quite the same light. Somedays I am a friend to him, somedays I am more "not very fun".
Parenting is quite a challenge and to those of us who really care and want to do right by our kids feel like we are failing miserably. We read books and listen to the tapes and when it seems like we get into sort of a rhythm, the floor falls out from under us and we have to totally reassess and remind ourselves that we have no idea of what we are doing. Well, at least that is what I do. Then I am reminded of The Perfect Parent. "I leave you My Peace which passes all understanding" "I am not a God of confusion, but of peace", "I will never leave you or forsake you." God our heavenly Father may not keep us from trials, but He does promise that He will be with us through them all.
The other day when Eric was kicking and screaming in Target, no less, and I did not know what to do or how to handle the situation, I just took a deep breath and prayed, "Lord, please give me the wisdom and peace to walk through this moment". Then lightning came down and wrote a magnificent solution on the wall and Eric instantly corrected his behaviour!!! Well, not exactly. I did have the assurance that I was not alone and when I look to the mountains...where does my help come from... it comes from the Lord. I will receive help from Him.
I rest assured that although I will make big parenting blunders, I know that God is big enough to spare my children from my humanness and build them up to be great men and women nonetheless.
Sometimes Eric kicks and screams in Target or the grocery store and my blood pressure rises and then sometimes he tells me that I am his best friend and my heart expands to overflowing.
