The boys are definitely “punishing” me for being gone. I don’t blame them one bit. Their tiny lives have seen a lot of upheaval, and being taken to another house for five days didn’t help. However, I’m praying it didn’t hurt too much either. My own kids would act up after I’d return from trips, so maybe it’s a sign of normalcy.
Today was a hard day. I stayed up late last night unpacking myself and the foster babies, doing laundry, and sending in a short story that was due by midnight. The one day that FC#2 actually sleeps in and it happens to be the day I have a WIC appointment.
Andrea came with me to the appointment and helped SO much when the boys decided to have meltdowns in the waiting room. Then half my brain fell out and I thought it’d be a good day to shop for the formal I’ll wear at the ACFW award ceremony. Somehow we soldiered through–I think FC#2 only crawled under one other lady’s fitting room door–and I walked out with two gorgeous dresses.
Over to Safeway’s deli for lunch where Andrea and I shared a scrumptious turkey salad and the boys had chicken strips. Shopped with WIC for the first time. Tried not to be uncomfortable with the woman’s impatience behind me in line. Discovered that WIC will be a tremendous help while we do foster care.
Came home, put boys down for naps, packed my own kiddos up for camping, and sent them off with Gramdma and Grandpa. Here’s where the day turns ugly. After the boys woke, FC#3 pushed my buttons. Literally. The buttons on the TV. The remote. The dishwasher.
He toppled freshly-folded piles of clothes, threw dish towels on the ground, touched anything I told him to leave alone, … The kicker is his little chuckle while he does it. At one point, tears building behind my eyes at the frustration of his defiance, teeth hurting from constant gritting, I called out to Jesus for the peace to make it through ’til dinner. Finally, I put FC#3 in his highchair/booster seat and faced him toward the wall. It was the only place he couldn’t get in more trouble.
My blog is titled “Posting with Purpose” and the purpose of this particular post is to beg for your prayers that tomorrow goes better. 🙂
Oh, Christina! I’m so sorry! Have you ever read the children’s book Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day?
I’m praying for you! Judy
I’m exhausted just reading this! Prayer – you got it, girl.
BTW, good solution for mischievous FC. Years ago, I babysat for the neighborhood terror (only 2 years of age). I finally removed the cushion from a deep, plastic molded chair and popped him in it. Trapped. He couldn’t get out to wreak havoc on the house (or me).
It WILL get better.
Blessings,
Susan 🙂
Yes, Judy, I felt like I was living the book!
Susan, today’s been better already. It does help to know that someone somewhere is praying for me. 🙂
Hi Christina,
I took your invitation to pop over here for a visit. This is the first post I read, and… woweeee!
I know that not all of us are called to parent other people’s children, but man, when I have a hard day parenting MY OWN, reading posts like this really puts the love-and-perseverance balance in perspective.
I really like the subtitle to your blog: Posting with Purpose. I’m prone to blither blather on my own blog. Sometimes because I fool myself into thinking I am profound. Sometimes because I’m trying to fill the silence that my blog has become. Sometimes it’s because I just like a bit of blither blather in the world. 😉
Posting with purpose is an worthy goal. Maybe I’ll try it sometime.
You know I am in your same boat..hang in there and call me sometime soon so we can get together once school starts bring the kids over. Call me if you need anything. I’ll be praying for you.
Nikki