Since todays blizzard was cancelled, Dekker and I picked my mom up from her home and hit the city for some errands running.
We hit Costco with zero success first. You know those amazing Contigo travel mugs? They now come in locking form, and I really want the pink ones. I have been waiting and looking for months. I heard there were some there, so I ran in and left my mom and Deks in the car, but alas, no pink. Dangit.
From there, we went to pick up some Robeez I was buying for Dekker off of one of those Facebook online sale type pages. That poor lonely woman told me her entire life story. About 40 minutes later, I finally got out the door and back in the car. We bailed out of that section of town at a good pace, since we had a lot to do and that set us back a bit.
Brady was working next to our ideal floor plan house again so we dropped by so we could show my mom the layout. To say simply, she approves 🙂
After lunch, we did a decently quick shop at Superstore and then headed to her place for the evening. Dekker was a total champ the entire day, and slept in the car on the way home. He did an amazing job for being as tired as he was. He was so patient and smiley and playful. I was reminded so many times throughout the day how thankful I am to have him in my life.
Of course, it was shortly after supper that I was greeted with my daily challenge. It isn’t usually the same as the day before, but there is always a challenge with a child. Today, it was supper. As I’ve said before, if all we ever gave Dekker was bread, he would be the happiest camper in the world. I mean really, who wouldn’t be? For dinner, we had a delicious cheeseburger soup and biscuits, and as usual, Dekker was far more interested in the biscuits. Wanting him to eat more of the soup, I would only give him so many pieces of biscuit before giving him a bite or two of soup. And WOW did he fight today. Probably at least ten minutes in, I took stock of the situation. He was over half done the soup, and every bit had been a battle. He liked it, I could tell, but he wanted the bread more. I had him facing me with no one else in his line of vision. He was straining to get out of his chair. He had big tears down his cheeks, and he was mad at me. I was mad at him too, and wasn’t too far off form having tears on my cheeks as well. After him hitting a spoonful away and making a mess, I gave his hand a slap. After disciplining him, I always feel like I can’t pass off the ugly job to anyone else. Even if he’s mad at me and would eat better for his dad, he needs to show respect and listen to what I’ve asked him to do. I also never want him to feel like he is a nuisance and that I don’t want to be with him, even when things are difficult. Maybe I think too much, but I think respect is super important and that it goes both ways. Just one way I try to encourage my son in hard situations, I guess. So we fought it out. It probably took another ten minutes before I, stupid as I am, decided to just stick a small chunk of biscuit on each spoonful of soup. Well THEN there was no problem. Sigh.
Once he had eaten everything, I took him out of his chair and we went for a walk to the back of the house to have a chat. We went into a darker room so there weren’t any real distractions, and I told him he needed to show more respect and not act out in anger. For those of you who are thinking “Just try doing that when they’re running circles around you” or that I’m picking a silly battle, that’s fine. We all have different ideas and parenting thoughts, and we don’t all have to agree. This is one I choose to pick. So I spoke these words to him over and over, and he was getting more and more mad at me, trying to get out of my arms and flailing around. Finally he burst out crying and just hugged me. I took that as a “I’m sorry mom, you’re right,” we had a little cuddle, and went to play toys with Grandma and Grandpa. It was rocky, and long, and I was exhausted by the end of it. But I feel like it went the best it could have gone. Right? I think so, anyway. There is always a challenge.
Now, I am tired. I just had a great cuddle and kiss time with Dekker before he went down, and now it is my turn to let down. Sooo ready!
Might bake tomorrow…
Wow, do I ever hear you on this one. Whatever you do, don’t call yourself stupid. Remember that Dekker is learning lots, and you’re learning LOADS. Give yourself a break 🙂
You’re right I guess, I just felt so dumb for not having tried it sooner. But he’s getting really good at communicating now so I’m hoping it’ll get easier at some point “fingers crossed* Glad I’m not the only parent that feels overwhelmed sometimes!
Hailey, until you’re a grandma you’ll never know how precious it is to know that my grandchildren’s parents love their children so deeply that they are willing to step into the rough stuff, the gooie mud, inorder to save their children. Thank you for loving Dekker and for giving him all that you have. I’m so proud of you!♥
Thank you mom. We really do love him. We’re doing our best!