Today was really quite good over all! We woke up to all the noisy pumps turned off, and receding water. God is good. We also helped lead worship at church. Lastly, we started planning some yard projects. I have been feeling discouraged, like our yard may never dry out and I quite possibly can’t put in my garden this year. Also, there will be sizeable repairs that will need to be done to our grass. But we realized so many projects that we can do and look forward to so I feel better 🙂
What was trying about today was actually my little Dekker boy. We had to wake him this morning at 8:00, which we’ve had to do many times before and it leaves him tired and cranky, but nothing we haven’t seen or dealt with before. Usually. Today was different. He was good at practice, and then as soon as we were out of the church, he was wailing. For probably about 20 minutes. We tried everything but he would not have it. Every single thing made him cry harder. We are currently struggling to find the balance of Dekker being able to express himself, and when he’s just milking it. He is more than welcome to cry and let us know that he’s tired or disappointed or even super angry, but the high pitched screams are something I have considerably less patience for. Those, in my opinion, should be saved for severe pain or fear. Once in a blue moon types of situations. This morning was the second time ever he’s been plunked in a crib or somewhere to contain him, and he’s been left until he calms down. He calmed down within minutes and we got him back and he played better, but he was on edge. He slept through church and did ok in the afternoon. I was wiped from dealing with him all morning though. Another Brady and I are working pretty hard on it consistency with parenting. We need to pick the same battles for sure! And if one of us corrects him or has to stop him from doing something, we stick it out with him until the end instead of passing him off to the other parent when we’re tired. Don’t get me wrong, there is a time for that! But this morning was one that I had to wait out with him. He wanted Brady sooo badly to save him from me, but we kept up with our plans and it worked out. Dekker was pretty fussy and hands-on in the early afternoon but we knew he was whooped and tried to give him a break, within reason. Its fine to be tired, but not all responses are appropriate just because one is tired.
He went back down for a nap just a couple of hours after he woke up from his first nap, and he slept a solid three hours. When we took him home, he wailed on and off on the drive. He never cries in the car anymore. We got him home and immediately made dinner. Doesn’t eating always make a person feel better?? Nope. Dekker would not eat supper.
In these kinds of moments, I want to be able to put my foot down and make him eat his whole meal before he can leave his chair, but like every other parent probably feels at some point, it was just too many battles that day and I was so frustrated to have to fight with him again. So instead, I opted for a different angle on my love for him. Not tough love. Genuine, going out of my way, love. I dug around in the freezer until I found frozen strawberries that I never made into jam, and frozen brown bananas. Those, plus a yogurt cup and some milk, and my little boy had a smoothie. He the HAPPIEST he had been all day! And seriously, how much work was that?! None. A handful or two of frozen fruit, and one dirty blender. Big deal. Small price to pay for a happy boy. Or two. Its not like Brady and I didn’t enjoy a smoothie as well.
After smoothie time, we decided Dekker had a long enough day and it was bedtime a little earlier than usual. Only really about 20 minutes earlier. After such a challenging day, I was nervous about bedtime. Its staying brighter longer, and I was worried he would fight bedtime routine. He came to our bedroom like always and had a drink from my water cup. I stole his blanket from him to convince him to come to me for cuddles, and while he read right through my trick, he dove for me. He lay right down on my and I sang him “Twinkle Twinkle.” I hadn’t ever sang him that song until just a little while ago and he seems to really like it, more than others. So I sang it through once and he didn’t flinch. He just breathed and lay still for a solid five minutes. I even got the big content sigh that often means he’s on his way out. Brady carried him off to bed and he seemed happy to go.
Such a perfect way to end the day. Now, the rest of the smoothies and a bath. And its 8:45! My heart is full and my legs are tired.