no eyes

Chad went on a long bike ride this morning, and I am home with the girls. As is our Saturday morning custom, I like to provide some kind of special breakfast treat such as cinnamon rolls (the girls actually refer to Saturday as 'cinnamon roll day'), a fruit smoothie, etc. This morning I made a cinnamon coffee cake loaf. (It didn't turn out so hot -- broke in half in the pan.) Anyway, while I was cleaning up the kitchen, the girls were watching Bob the Builder. We repeatedly have told our girls that they can not lean on the TV cabinet, put their feet on the TV cabinet, kick the TV cabinet, touch the TV cabinet. Now I realize we should have nipped this in the bud a long time ago with a hard and fast rule -- you touch, TV is off. Period.

I had already reprimanded Ingrid 3 times about the cabinet this morning (2 too many...) but I was honestly being lazy. Upon the third warning, I told her "do it again and the TV is off." Well, the 4th time (3 too many warnings) came and off the TV went. You can guess Ingrid's response. Not happy. I reminded her of the warning and here was her response:

I wish you didn't have eyes!!

Here's the verse I quoted back to her:

The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Watching the evil and the good. - Proverbs 15:3

She said what we often wish, didn't she? But we KNOW it isn't true. The Lord does see our every little deed, but not as a malevolent dictator waiting for us to slip up. I think I was "waiting for her to slip up" a little bit, because frankly I wanted the TV off. My motivation was wrong in the first place. The Lord watches us for His purposes, I often watch my girls for my own selfish purposes instead of wanting to shepherd their little hearts. The warning after warning after warning was actually doing my girls a disservice. It wasn't showing patience, and ultimately just showed them that "I got my own way".

pride

This morning I took the girls to S-bux for our last long girls weekend treat. My girls were happily munching on donuts, drinking juice/milk and contentedly coloring. They were pretty quiet too. It was an idyllic scene. In fact, several people walking by our table directed smiles and cute comments our way (mostly because Ilsa was wearing a tutu, t-shirt with a tank top on top and a wool hat).

Then came *those* kids...we've all experienced them at a public place. This 3 year old girl was literally screaming at the top of her lungs, and her mommy was doing nothing other than cajoling her to go inside "like a nice little girl and you'll get a treat". Then came the "we're going to leave if you don't shape up" threats...not followed-through upon. She looked at me and mouthed, "how long will this last?" meaning, it was a phase, right? We could hear the screaming continue into the store (we were seated outside).

I have seen this mommy and kids there before on my Tuesday/Thursday mornings with Ilsa. There is always some issue...and a sheepish retreat from the store.

By this time I'm feeling pretty good about myself. I would never cajole. I follow through on discipline. I have kids who listen. I...I...I... For the most part, my girls are well behaved. They have their moments, of course. So do I (see "angry" below). But this gloating is a sin. It's pride.

Proverbs 16:18 - Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.

Proverbs 16:5 - Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.

Proverbs 21:4 - Haughty eyes and a proud heart, The lamp of the wicked, is sin.

This mom genuinely appears to be struggling with how to discipline her kids. Since I see her periodically, what should I do? Is being a good example enough? Perhaps no one ever taught her. Maybe she's never stepped through the door of a church. Would it be awfully presumptious to buy her a good book such as Don't Make Me Count to Three? I really don't think that's the best approach. Ooooh, maybe I could bring the book to S-bux and read it; that might be a more-natural way to bring it up. I really feel for this mom and her kids. Things are only going to go downhill from here for her.