It was dress up day at dance class yesterday for Adeline.
She was super excited to wear her Cinderella dress with her tap shoes...
and I was double super excited to watch her tap around like a princess.
Girls are so much fun!
Adeline is such a true blessing, but this age combined with her strong will has been so challenging for Philip and me. We keep praying for God to guide us in his will for our parenting, and we've been spending an increased amount of time in prayer with Adeline about her behavior too.
She sure does look like nothing but sweetness, innocence, and adorable in these photos, but ya'll this girl can be one fiesty chicky.
My heart broke when I was walking her back to the car after dancing yesterday.
Her teacher told me she's having trouble listening to instructions of staying on her tape (her marked spot) so she lost her balance beam privileges. I wasn't completely surprised, and although I was a little disappointed, she is actually making improvement.
Then another little girl pointed at her and said, "Mommy, that girl is BAD!"
[Yea, I totally have THAT kid]
Luckily Addie didn't hear, because although she is very capable of behaving badly quite often, she is not bad.
She's a very good child, who chooses to sometimes behave badly.
Her mother's reply after looking at me and laughing was, "Shut up, girl, you bad too!"
It makes my skin crawl when people call their children bad.
It makes my skin crawl and my claws come out when I hear people call my child bad, and we've even have family say so.
Children are precious, amazing gifts from God and while we ain't tryin' to fool anyone around here... she can behave all kinds of bad, but she is not bad.
Last week Adeline threw two of her worst fits on record. They were Category 5s, while most of her tantrums are category 1 or 2s. She can be moody, rude, unpredictable, and sometimes obnoxious.
and we're working on that.
but....
she is also:
loving, kind, generous, thoughtful, nurturing, charismatic, independent, precious, intelligent, and beautiful amongst many other incredible qualities.
I guess what I'm just trying to say is that parenting is hard.
I've got to have patience and grace with her though.
My heavenly Father sure does with me, and Lord knows I don't deserve it.
Adeline's look is changing so much and her eye color surely does come out when she has her Cinderella outfit on. All children have their moments it is the parents that take their time and actually try to better their child that are making the world a better place. I look up to you and always jot down parenting tips for you for the day God decides to bless us with children.
ReplyDeleteI know that even with Eloise at such a young age (and not knowing any better when she gets fussy)... I feel like I am not doing enough or the right thing... and that people think I'm not doing a good enough job. But then I am reminded by your blog... that kids are kids! It sounds like you're doing the best you can... and that's what matters! Everyone's kids have their moments--just maybe not in public as much as others! :) You sound like you are on the right track with laying it before your Father's feet!
ReplyDeleteohmygoodness. She is too beautiful. And I have to tell you something. I haven't logged on to Blogger for months. Since before Ava was born. I just didn't have the time, but for some reason...today, you came across my heart. So I logged on to read your blog only and see how you and your sweet family are doing.
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly what I needed to see. Because Sophia has been such a challenge lately. I finally had a break down last night and cried for an hour straight about her behavior. We actually had to drop OUT of dance class because she refused to listen and follow directions. She disrupted every class and at her final one last week she threw a tantrum like I've never seen. I was humiliated, and I even started crying myself in front of all the parents! A nice mother had to help me carry Ava to the car because Sophie was screaming and kicking me and I had to carry her out in the middle of class! She's been disrespectful. Laughs in our face when we try to punish her. She's been exhausting. It's the most emotional experience I have ever been through!
So I believe God lead me to your blog so I can know I'm not alone over here!! I KNOW our girls aren't "bad", but it's hard to get perspective when you are in the thick of it every day! I feel like I'm fighting with her somedays from sun up to sun down! Everything is a battle, she even threw a fit because I wanted her to take her jammies off today!
ugh! So thank you for sharing this. I have NO time to blog...but reading yours helps me feel centered again and remember what a blessing children are. Love you!
Aw, she is so cute! I love her little dress. My mom always used to say that what we did was "not good" instead of "bad" - that way we knew it was wrong to act that way, but we didn't think WE were "bad"!
ReplyDeleteThanks for following my blog - I'm following you now too!