The Parenting Dilemma

Parents are new at everything.  With the first child, every interaction and child development is new.  Every challenge is new.  We can read parenting books, talk to other parents, talk to our parents...yet still we do not have all the answers - or even close to all the answers.  And even with the second child (from my experience) there is still plenty to learn.

What do you do when your child is two years old and screams, 

"I don't want to sleep!  I don't like sleep!" 

and you have gone through your bedtime routine 

(because everyone says those help and they do, but only so much) 

and you have given rules 

(like no screaming) 

and you have followed through on punishments 

and told the child he needs sleep 

and it is bedtime, no negotiation...

What do you do when you find your child has used something to scratch your nice furniture when he was unattended (think sentries changing guard) as one adult left for another to watch him?  What consequence is best?  What lesson can be learned?

Your guess is as good as mine.  No parent can predict every action of their child.  No parent can make their child like and want to do something no matter how badly the child needs it. Children are after all separate people.

We are all God's children.  He is our Creator and He loves us as a Father.  God sees what we do and the choices we make and oh how He must shake His head at us all.  No matter how much He leads and guides us, we all make mistakes.  Being a parent is helping me see small glimpses into what it must be like for God to care for so many people, so many who just have no clue what is good for them or how to live even when told the best way to live.

Parenting definitely keeps us humble.

As a side note, my son does not act that way every night and we do have a warranty on the furniture.

Singing off...be at rest, child of God
Gina