OK, confession time: 2013 was downright messy for me. Was it that third kid who threw off our family's routine? Was it my hormones playing tricks on my mind? Was it my husband's ridiculous work schedule that left him distracted, disconnected and uninterested in joining forces with me in child discipline? Perhaps it was all three (and more) that created the perfect storm: a miserable mommy and disrespectful kids. I felt like I was raising bratty teenagers instead of sweet preschoolers, and it seemed impossible to focus on the many wonderful blessings in my life. The only thing my extended family and several friends could do was laugh and tell me that it would only get worse as my children turned into real teenagers soon.
Gee, thanks.
Nobody had a clue how much I was hurting -- and struggling -- to create a loving, peaceful home. And knowing that there was always someone out there who was worse off than me made it extremely difficult to feel justified in seeking help.
As is so often the case, God answered my prayers when I least expected it. It happened to be during a round of "High/Low" at a MOPS meeting last Spring, and when my turn came around, I just couldn't hold the tears back. The other moms surrounding me that morning prayed for me and supported me exactly the way that I needed. They encouraged me seek God's wisdom and strength, and trust Him to lead me and my family on a path toward healing.
Fast forward a few months. My son and I attended a few counseling sessions so that I could better understand his needs. I added B vitamin and fish oil supplements to my diet to help me better manage my reaction to the kids. And, some loving and well-timed parenting advice from my in-laws helped my husband better understand how to support me with the kids. Our family's New Year's Eve celebration this year was a near repeat of last year's, except that the tears and frustration were replaced by giggles and joy. I can't say that we are back to the "good ol' days," but the past year of struggle has helped my little family to grow and change more than all of our time together combined. That's a good thing!
Parenting really is messy work, but with God's guidance and a great support network at MOPS, we can all get through those tough times and come out stronger, wiser, and with a greater understanding of God's grace.
MEETING TOPIC: Parenting is Messy Work
WHEN: Tuesday, 1/28 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
WHERE: Fellowship Hall at Calvary Bible Church (3245 Kalmia Ave., Boulder, CO 80301)
FOOD will be provided by Destiny's table (thank you!)
As always, we will start with a prayer and welcome message before we settle in to play "High/Low" at our tables while enjoying our meal.
Kacey put together a fun craft for us: glass etching (ok, it'll likely be monograms, but still, you get the idea...) After that, our lovely Mentor Moms will come together on stage for a panel on temper tantrums and other behavioral concerns. This panel will lend itself to lots of Q&A. If you have a specific concern that you would like addressed during the meeting, please feel free to email Kelly or Jacqui directly:
kelly.nishi@gmail.com
jacqui.reddick@gmail.com
Otherwise, we will have cards at each table during the meeting so that you can jot down questions as they come to mind.
See you on Tuesday!
Sheryl
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