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."