Stong willed child....

Before Ryan and I got married, we promised ourselves that we would "never have a child that treated us that way!" You know the kid I am talking about... the one that screams "NO!" directly in the mother's face when told to complete some small task, the child that throws themselves on the floor when you tell them it is time to put a "pretty" in their hair, the child that upon the completion of the bedtime routine disappears to a near by closet only to be snatched up and put in a head lock to calm them to sleep. (Just kidding about the headlock, but it does seem tempting some nights). Well, well, the Lord has such a sense of humor! Here we are... 2 years 10 months into our stint at parents and we indeed find ourselves in the exact predicament we vowed to avoid! Our daughter Abby is evidence that the devil does exists! Do not get me wrong... we have our good days. When she obeys, uses her manners, and all but jumps out of her skin to love on her family. But we also have days when I have all I can muster to not call the adoption agency to see if someone, anyone would be willing to take her! We have picked a discipline strategy that is showing some signs of success! Most times she will take a narrow seat on the time out step and wait out the 2 minutes, sometimes, we have even resorted to spanking when the crime is worthy... like the other day when she disappeared from the back yard to chase her "Butt" (our dog Buck), across Columbia Ave. I mean seriously... I went in the change a diaper and poof.... GONE! In my opinion a firm swat on the butt beats a Buick any day of the week. I love my children so, and want only the best for them. I find myself most days in an internal battle, wondering if I am doing right by them! I see now my naive former self, the one that would NEVER HAVE A CHILD LIKE THAT, praying for the Lords strength, guidance and grace every single day. Abby knows the difference from right and wrong, and after several bible readings about the 10 commandments and honoring your mother and father, she now takes a seat in time out, and with tears and snot streaming down her face, tells me that she wants to "obey my Jesus"! Abby is almost 3 and not potty trained, and most days shows no interest in being a big girl and going on the potty, but she knows the most important truth of all, and that is that we are suppose to obey Jesus and follow him! I have taken so much advice from those that "have been there"

• This too shall pass.
• She is 2, this is normal.
• Be consistent she will get it soon.

And for the past 6 months I have taken this advise to heart, and I am now seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. She is learning to obey, she is getting dressed without a struggle (the past 2 days, but hey, I will take whatever I can get). She even went to bed last night with only a 5 minute fit... PROGRESS! And as we speak, she is upstairs coloring a picture for her JaJa who she is going to see on Friday and singing in an angelic tone, "Jesus loves me this I know...." I am going to go love on her and praise the Lord for small victories!