How I Had a Parenting Win!

She asked to stay home today and I have learned when she is trying to manipulate me.  How she sounds, when and where she tells me.  Does she give me eye contact or text me.  While my blood pressure rises like it's a crisis decision,  I have to take into consideration how many days she has missed, her grades, my judgment of her ability to push through  a cold, allergies, stress, or all three.

After a few attempts and observations, a good mom knows how to read her child and how to send her on her way packing her backpack or when it's a call the doctor, go by the pharmacy & watch movies kind of day.

God is our perfect parent and He knows when to give us justice and make our life hard by logical or natural consequences.  And He knows when it's time to give us grace and soften the impending consequences to our actions or even eliminate them all together.  I love the way He parents me and how He gave me examples in the Bible to follow, and the Holy Spirit to guide me to guide this child (who He also gave me.)

There is a vast difference between God's perfect parenting style and my trial and error style.  But today I am confident that I did it right.  And I know this from the peaceful thoughts in my head.

Any good mom knows that a sick day for a kid means a change in her schedule too.  Being vigilent towards the physical and emotional needs of her child is the first priority.  Secondary is the daily chores and errands.  Forget the lists and check marks for the day.  The day will be filled with physical sacrifice and soft words.  The nurse hat goes on and the manager hat comes off.

She texted me and I know that means she wants me to hear her words and not jump to conclusions too quickly.  I know she had a cold over 10 days ago and it could have settled into a sinus infection.  The crazy long weekend and storms has uprooted her eating and sleeping patterns, plus the mold allergies are off the charts.  I have a dull headache from the pollen today too and it's easy to hear God tell me, "Let her stay home, it's not a productive learning day so close to the end of school, and she could use some antibiotics.  The doctor's note will cover her absence today and you will get to hang with your teen for a quiet rest day.  It's a gift."

A peek thru the keyhole to my life

This past rainy weekend was very lazy, I stayed in my pajamas and didn't go out all day.  I listened to much of an audio book “The Girl on the Train” as I worked at my desk in my kitchen.  I’ve been pondering what I should blog about.  I know that making it personal grabs people’s attention and keeps it more than just writing about facts or impersonal things, but I have trouble sharing about myself. I think I am not very interesting. 

Then I remember about an unfinished text conversation about my battle with infertility with my neighbor who is struggling with the emotional and physical battle too.  I just wrote out my notes to the moms I mentored this semester at church.  I loved sharing my time and mom story with them and they seemed to enjoy it as well.  And there’s the Brave social media I buzzed about, processing post conference ideas, following  up with my own brave art journal. I could share my menu and grocery shopping list techniques, I'm proud I figure this system out for myself.  I could share my parent success while helping my daughter through her bought of depression (now that she is in a good place.)

I’ve promised to share my eating blog along with a friend in a blog next year, after our successful weight loss.  It scares me to admit it publicaly, but I am a food addict.  I’m opening up to my friend and therapist about it and they are helping me face it and deal with it. 

I will make an appointment to talk to a dietician, my daughter’s whom I really respect.  She deals with eating disorders.  She knows how to ask the right questions and educate addicts.  I’ve realized that being an addict to food is really tough to work through because we must eat daily and cannot give it up like alcohol or drugs, which we do not need to live. And my battle against it is as difficult, and the harm to myself is significant.

Like everyone, I need accountability to motivate me to make better food choices.  I’ve gotten into bad eating habits, rewarding myself for being a nice and generous person.  But have not had any accountability for my poor eating choices, other than an eye roll from my husband or the concerned lecture from my dad. 

(Mom and I in Vegas in March)