I won’t be expecting a Mother of the Year Award.

I’ve said it before. Sophie’s arrival changed everything.  She is a little firecracker to say the least.  I’ve gone from confident mother and Nanny to entertaining the notion of contacting Supernanny, JoJo.  This past Saturday, the ABC show accepted applications at Cortana Mall in Baton Rouge.

Oh, people, I’m not that desperate!  Well…at least, not yet.  You decide…

One night last week Joe and I wrestled Sophie to give her nightly doses of Benadryl and vitamins.  Sometimes she runs away, kicks and twitches to keep from taking them.  Sometimes she is willing and even exclaims, “YUMMY!”

After we accomplished our mission, I sat the Benadryl on the kitchen counter so that I wouldn’t forget to pack it for my Mom’s house the next day.  I then went into Sophie’s room to pack her clothes.  I didn’t get far before I remembered that I needed to call Mom.  So I went to my bedroom to get my phone.

How I walked past her without noticing is beyond me… “MOMMY, look,” she boldly asked.

So I did.  There she was.  Holding the Benadryl bottle in one hand, the cap in the other.  With a bit of pink already dripping from her chin, she put the bottle to her mouth to take a swig.  For a Nannysecond, I stood shocked with my jaw dropped.

“NO, SOPHIE!   You NEVER, EVER get medicine by yourself!  That is dangerous!  NO, NO, NO!”

She still wanted to grin but I suspect my tone stopped her.  The bottle was still new, so I was confident she didn’t take much.  She normally takes her nightly dose a few drops at a time as Benadryl is a little strong.  We watched her closely.  We prayed.  She was fine.

And then… the other night Courtney, Sophie and I went to Walmart.  We were in the toy section surrounded by lots and lots of parents, several very excited children and an occassional employee.  Sophie asked to get in the back of the buggy.  This has been a new adventure for her.  So I let her.  She stood up many times.  I scolded her.  But not firm enough for the strong-willed child that she is.  I made an abrupt stop and the unthinkable happened…. she fell out.

ON THE HARD FLOOR!

ON HER BACK!

I think I screamed rather loudly.  After she pointed exactly where it was hurting I checked for a knot.  There was a slight one.  We gathered quite the crowd.  But you know what?  Not one person came up to us to see if she was okay.  Granted, she should not have been allowed to get in the back of the buggy in the first place, let alone stand for even a Nannysecond.  Still, it saddens me to think of what we have become as a soceity.  We were gawked at.  Gasp.  Needless to say, I was embarrassed.  But more importantly, I was concerned about Sophie.

Long after we arrived home, my chest remained tight.  I finally stopped long enough to press through in prayer.  I had already prayed for her.  But I think I felt so horrible about what happened that I could not get peace.  Peace did come.  And Sophie was fine.

She is still climbing and challenging and demanding independence.  She wants to snap her own pants after pottying.  She wants to rinse her own hair.  Two year olds don’t usually pull those things off well.

I sometimes feel challenged on a minute by minute basis.  But this one thing I know:  she IS fearfully and wonderfully made.  Her creator gave her a tenacity that will serve Him well as she chooses.  And that is my prayer.  I will not question.  I will not second-guess.  I will continually remind myself to trust Him.  Not only with her, but with me.  He is well able to guide me.

II Peter 1:3 says, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.

ALL things have been given us pertaining to life AND godliness.  That includes wisdom for parenting.  In fact, for wisdom all we have to do is ask (see James 1:5).

I’ll continue to remind myself of these Scriptures at times when Sophie lets out single long shrills—like at The Bass Pro Shop while we’re waiting in line to see Santa.

Or when she arches her back, kicks her legs and screams while I’m putting her in a time out.

Or when her only response to “time for bed, Sophie” or “time for bath, Sophie” or “pick up your toys, Sophie” or a myriad of other commands is, “NO! I DON’T!  WANT TO!”

Except the the recent occasion when she added one additional prhase—when she refused to get up off the floor at the cool new Beef Jerky Outlet (“Cool”, IF you’re Joedaddy!) adding this:

“I!  DON’T!  CARE!”

HEAVY sigh…

She doesn’t care.

Thank God HE does!  And she will.  One day.  Until then, hope you’re all feeling like great parents! 😉

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