We just finished a marathon session of "Battle of the Wills". Daniel, Who normally is in bed by 630, has just gone to bed and it is 845. We have a family rule that at each meal everyone must have a "No Thank You" bite (one bite of everything). Tonight, Daniel decided he did not want to eat a bite. Now I am sure you must think me a horrible mommy who was forcing my poor poor child to eat some poisonous morsel, but in fact, the thing he refused to eat was a bite of pear. It is one of his favorite foods! It was absolutely just a power struggle;-). I learned long ago, and it has been re-enforced many times to me as a parent, that when it comes to a Knock down battle of the wills- the parent MUST win. Now there are many many things I do not make issues, but if there is a "You must" statement- then we will live and die by it. This was one of those times. Daniel has been showing signs of being strong willed, and I knew we would have to prove to be Alpha dog or trouble would be rising quicker than we could handle it. Indeed, the two and a half hour struggle was still validated;-). Now I was just telling Jchon yesterday that one of the more difficult things about being a mom is not having much positive feedback or the fulfillment of a job done to completion. Unlike most jobs in "the real world";-), you don't have much that can be done with a sigh of job well done. Laundry will be there tomorrow, meals just eaten will need to be cooked again soon and messes just cleaned will be quickly made dirty again. Now don't get me wrong- I LOVE my job. Just making a point that sometimes the accolades are few and far between. Tonight was one of those nights. But then again- maybe that is why God has us have children at different intervals. As I struggled with the will of my 15 month old, I could also hear my 3 year old dancing and singing from the other room "Seek ye first the kingdom of God". That definitely does warm my heart and give me strength for the battles tomorrow;-). goodnight all and I wish you all a fun and fulfilled day;-)
