Fully Trained--WOOHOO!

Kyle has arrived to the wonders of the camode ONLY! His teacher just knew how to work wonders on his second day at school with her. She was willing to go where we weren't willing to go anymore. Kyle had resisted us so much and so much drama always accompanied doing 'serious business' in the potty that we became passive about the whole situation and just 'hoped for the best' one day. And that day arrived at the beginning of January and he just GOT IT right away, as we knew he would, once he experienced success one time. And he never looked back!

I said a year ago that this learning stage for Kyle would not be a 'blip' on the screen of his life but would be something I would totally remember in detail. There are things we forget as we raise kids; I think David and I will always remember the personal growth we had to face as we experienced some of our worst moments as human beings and as parents. And we also found ourselves showing grace at levels we had never experienced.

We praised God for Kyle's achievement. We knew the 'day would come' and I've joined the ranks of women now that sympathetically listen to struggling Moms in this department and found myself 'wisely' saying, "it'll happen when they're ready." How cliche. I have vowed not to say that to any Mom now because it was a frustrating thing to hear before because deep inside, you wonder if there's a medical condition or your child will enter school not trained. I suppose it's a deep desire too for your child to 'fit in.' I had to learn to accept Kyle where he was at, despite the frustrating he saw from me at times. If you told me these words, please don't think I didn't appreciate your kindness and your attempt to console me. I did and I do. But I felt silly telling that to a Mom recently because I felt like I negating her frustration and glossing over how major this truly is for many parents and their resistant and self-paced kidlets.

Here's to all the little boys and girls out there who just are letting Jesus develop their minds and bodies in His own time. I mean, ultimately, that's who is truly in control and it just simply comes down to the child cooperating with their Maker who deeply loves them and is growing him or her exactly as He desires for them. How restful and reassuring. How great is the Father's love for us that we should be called children of God and that is what we are (1 John 3:1).

I Love Quiet

I'm known for being loud and being able to project my voice over a noisy room--having said that, I love the quiet right now. Not much to blog right now, not much time as I need to work. But had to say that my house is so still right now, and I relish it. Kyle was at home from preschool today sick. David has taken him into the doctor as I'm preparing for a party tonight. Makenna is conked out. And it's just silent here. Not a bird chirping, not a dark barking, no train whistles blowing...nothing. Some people think silence like this is deafening. Not me. When it gets this quiet, I really can feel myself alive. I'm not moving so fast, just sitting. Working quietly, having time to just think and feel my heart beating at a normal pace, rather than the high rate I hit during spin class and the rapid pace I probably have throughout my day as I go up and down our stairs dozens of times, get drinks and snacks continually, clean, clean, spill up mess...clean again...dress a child again, load up in the car, fast, quick, move, move move...lower your voice, be quiet, no hit, no scream...time out...let's read a book, give hugs, how I love the smell of my children's hair, let me just watch you play trains, I like seeing you think...I like seeing you feed your baby doll and rock her...as fast as my day moves usually, I like this quiet right now. Right now, it's just really good.