The Looney Bin
Christian Parenting Gone Awry
I hope it’s not just me; there are days when I feel like a real failure as a mom. I always had this ideal that as a Mom, everything would just go perfect. I would always be free to play with kids without any distractions. My kids would be compliant and happy. That fights wouldn’t last for 52 hours straight….
Don’t get me wrong. The girls and I have some wonderful days together. Many afternoons I look around at my little family: pigtails, chubby fingers, bubbly little giggles and I feel totally content and fulfilled. My children are precious. However, there are days when I want to pull my hair out.
Some days are so trying that I am tempted to sit in sackcloth and ashes until Jesus comes back. Other days are so wonderful that I wonder if the stars and planets have aligned in some God-ordered miracle. Most of the time, it’s just a series of ups and downs. What really pricks at my conscience, are the times when I know I should be showing Jesus to my girls, but my temper gets in the way.
I’ve called myself, “The Christian Parent Gone Awry”. I know what I should say and do, but sometimes the love-centered meaning gets lost in translation. One day, my four year old had fought me on every little issue. “Please pick up your toys”, “Don’t throw food at the dog”, “Why are you coloring on the toilet?”, “Don’t beat your sister with her jack-in-the-box”, “It’s not nice to bite you sister just because she looked at you”, “Don’t give me that look!”, “No, you can’t run away…”, “No, enlisting in the military is not an option for a four year old!” I had begged, pleaded, reasoned, actively listened, prayed, taken away toys, had time-out, had multiple spankings, but she wasn’t having any part in it. I remember facing her with my hands on my hips and demanding that she clean up her room for the tenth time, or she would lose Christmas and all other major holidays. She crossed her arms with defiance sparkling in her blue eyes and shouted “No!!!” At that moment, I lost all control of myself. I sputtered, “Wha-, why you- you know what? It’s a good thing that Jesus died to save you or you would HAVE NO HOPE WHATSOEVER!!!”