That Could Have Gone Better

Do you ever have those moments as a parent where you are hearing yourself and you know what you are saying is ridiculous but out it comes anyway?

"No one can touch each other ever again for the rest of your lives?!"

"No more speaking! We are done with words for now."

"Once was an accident but TWICE is too much! Clean that up or you'll never have milk without a lid again!"

I wish I could say I made these up, but those sentences actually came out of my mouth this week. All the while I heard laughter in my own head and a sweet voice reminding me "what if my grace for you ran out after you made the same mistake twice?" or "What if you came to me with a problem and I declared that I had already dealt with enough problems that day?"

Thank goodness for my Heavenly Father who reminds me constantly how much I need his grace and how important it is to share his grace with others, especially my kids.

It took the entire 45 min ride to my parents house (where my kids were having dinner so I could take a break) for me to come up with a list of positive things that had happened that day. As soon as I opened the car door to the back seat I got down on my knees, looked my kids in the eyes and listed off all the moments that I was thankful for that day. I hugged them, told them I loved them and then sent them to go have fun with Poppy.

I came home, had ice cream for dinner and sat down take a breath and listen to God. My kids hadn't listened to me once the ENTIRE day and I was spent. I felt invisible, ignored and insignificant. I realized that I hadn't been good at listening today either. I could feel God tugging at my heart all day but I was too caught up in my own parenting to listen to my heavenly father offering me advice too.

Okay Lord, help me try again tomorrow...