Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Toddlerhood

Does anyone else struggle with the every changing moods of a toddler? See this picture? It was taken after church a few Sundays ago. Looking at her precious smile, you'd never guess that our morning started out with a tantrum so vile I nearly gave up an stayed home. Don't let that sweet smile fool you. Home girl can cop an attitude, and quick.

Believe it or not we have a battle every Sunday morning about what Kenly is going to wear. I lay out options and I give her a choice. She picks. I help her dress. The next thing I know we have weeping, moaning, gnashing of teeth because she has decided that she doesn't want to wear the outfit that she selected. Can you see my rolling eyes? Can you hear my frustrated groans? I didn't think I'd be dealing with fashion drama until she was at least fourteen. I know it's a power play. I know she's trying to exert some control over her little universe. I understand the science behind what is going on in every battle, but sometimes I'm just battle weary. I'm tired of being consistent and being rational. I want to fall in the floor and have a big fit right with her, but I don't. At least most of the time. I endure. She needs to know that pitching a tantrum the size of Texas doesn't mean that she wins. Don't get me wrong...when it's appropriate, we let her win. This toddler phase is trying. I love her budding independence. I like that she wants to branch out on her own, even if it means that she often throws my kisses in the trash can these days. It means I'm doing my job. But, I miss my snuggle bug. The girl who thought her mama could do no wrong.

It's a good thing that I know to drop everything and embrace days like the one I captured below. Some days I'll ask, "What do you want to do today?" My heart thrills when she responds, "Let's snuggle, mama." So, we grab Benny and her binky, and we head to the big bed to cuddle the morning away. We pretend that the trees outside are creatures. We pretend that Benny is a baby deer. Kenly become the mama deer and I'm transformed into the daddy deer. We kiss and love until we are both starving for breakfast. I love when my toddler remembers that a life filled with only battle is no life at all. Love rounds things out.


















Love and patience with each other make us both winners.

I Corinthians 13: 4-13
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.




1 comment:

Elle Belles Bows said...

Rhonda,

Beautiful post! I can relate to it in more ways than one!

Your snuggle time sounds perfect and Kenly will always remember it!

Thanks for your ending reflection too!

Kerri