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tantrums |
Last week my son was horribly behaved. Not just generally naughty (he’s a toddler, so ‘generally naughty’ is nothing to blog about) but honestly horrible. We have been dealing with the normal “toddler stuff” for awhile now. He’s been experimenting with throwing tantrums and telling me “no!” etc.
Honestly, the tantrums don’t bother me that much. My son is a pretty logical child and so he usually has a reason for throwing a fit. (doesn’t make the tantrum okay, but it does help me to maintain patience throughout it, because I can understand why he’s upset and that he just doesn’t know how to respond to disappointment yet..)
This week, there was no logic to it, he was just plain horrible. Screaming for no reason, asking for something then when I gave it to him yelling “no!” and literally throwing it back at me etc. Hitting, crying, yelling, throwing things… it was awful. There was no reasoning to it (that I could see at the time…later I realized he was teething and he was changing sleeping patterns as well). It was just a horrid week. My hubby would come home from work and I would just be exhausted. Ready for my day with my son to be over. I hate being that way, I hate getting “tired” of being with my son, but it was that bad that I was just weary.
I would hear my boy wake up in the morning and I would groan, tears would come to my eyes, then I would literally pray and beg God for patience to make it through the day. beg Him to make me a little more Christ-like today as I try to be loving and gracious to my boy who has seemingly turned into a monster..
It really got me thinking though. About God’s mercy, and God’s grace for us.
Lamentations 3:22,23 says:
23
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Peace. |
I know that my son cannot comprehend the love and grace of God right now, but I pray that I am being a good example of it towards him, and one day he can see my example, my successes and my failures and it will all point him to God. To the one who gives grace more than any other, the one that loves us like no one else can. the one that created love.
Mary Beth says
It’s so hard to turn around and give to others what God has given to you. We gratefully accept his new mercies and grace each day, but it’s hard to extend the same things to others.
Sounds like you are doing a wonderful job pointing his little heart towards Christ!
Mary Beth
newlifesteward.com
futurehope says
well put Mary Beth. It is so hard at times!!! thanks for the encouragement!
Headed over to visit your blog now! thanks for commenting and sharing the link to your blog too!
Sharon Claassen says
It is amazing what happens when we become mothers! We begin to understand God all the more; especially His grace and mercy because it is even greater than what we are able to give to our children. To know that God loves us more intensely than our greatest love can give is absolutely wonderful.
futurehope says
You are so right! It really does amaze me that God’s love for me (and my child) far exceeds my love for my little boy. I love my little guy as much as I possibly can, so much it hurts sometimes!!! and I know it’s still NOTHING compared with the love Christ has already shown us. truly incredible!
kd sullivan says
This is an amazing post because it makes an easy for mothers to understand analogy. I wonder how many tantrums I’ve thrown? Actually, come to think of it…I’ve been throwing one lately…ugh…
futurehope says
Glad you enjoyed it.
I found myself throwing tantrums this weekend too :(
SO very thankful for God’s grace!!!
Christina says
Parenting has taught me deeper levels of grace I would otherwise had never known. So thankful that his grace is new every morning. Thanks for sharing your heart!
futurehope says
me too! <3 I have learned SO MUCH from my little man, and he's only 19 mos. old!!!
thanks for commenting! :)
Chantelle - ThousandSquareFeet says
Thank you for sharing – parenting is not always easy but so very often rewarding! And when we tap into the strength and grace that God has anew for us each day, it is really amazing what we can do, together with Him. Thanks for the reminder! Visiting from coveredingrace.
futurehope says
thanks for visiting!!! :)
you phrased it perfectly “parenting is not always easy but is rewarding!” That pretty much sums it up doesn’t it?
Mom Photographer says
being a mother teaches us so many things, gives us so much strenght that most of men have no idea.
My daughter is in a tantrum stage as well but when it happens I just keep telling myself: “it will pass.it’s just a stage”. hope it’s all better now for you. it will all get better!
futurehope says
thanks so much for the encouragement. He’s been better this weekend, but still throwing in some tantrums here and there! Keeping me on my toes for sure! ;)
Marianne @ AbundantLife says
I love this reminder that we (as adults) are childish in God’s eyes. Remembering his grace sure helps me find the grace that I need with my children. Lovely post.
futurehope says
thanks Marianne :)
It’s funny because things that we “know” (ex. that we are God’s children) just become so much more clear when we have children of our own. truly amazing!
thanks for stopping by today! <3
futurehope says
awww you have 2 pretty close together! :) We will too in a few months!
poor little baby teething. I always thought it was so pitiful when my boy was so little and teething, because he had no idea what was going on!
this week has been better so far thankfully!
thanks for sharing the link to your blog! I will go check it out :D
futurehope says
awww i’m sorry you are going through it with your little guy too! hopefully it passes quickly for all of us! :)
I totally agree, being a parent has helped me understand God a lot more and in different ways than ever before! truly amazing! :)
thanks for stopping by my blog and sharing about your journey!!!
Headed over to visit your blog now :)
futurehope says
Oh wow three times so far! you must be a pro by now! ;)
GREAT verse for the tantrum times… wow. thanks for sharing that!!!!
headed over to visit your blog now, thanks for sharing the link!
futurehope says
Prayer is pretty much the only way to get through some toddler days isn’t it? :P
thanks for sharing your blog link, I’m headed over to “visit” you now!!!
futurehope says
sounds like a lot of us are going through it at the same time! Nice to not be the “only one”, it sure feels like I am sometimes!!!
thanks for stopping by & for sharing your link, headed over to visit you now!
m says
yes it is nice to not be the only one! lol! I know I feel like I am alone at times too! Thanks for stoppin back by! :)
Ruth@GraceLaced says
Thanks for linking up! Parenting is indeed the most difficult job I’ve ever attempted! It is so very sanctifying!
futurehope says
so true!!! :)
Melanie says
Beautiful post about tantrums and grace. So much truth. thanks for sharing. I definately find that when I see my own behavior in my children and then identify God’s response to me, which is so often grace, I am better equipped to be a good mother and lead my children to the Lord. Keep up the good work.
futurehope says
thanks so much Melanie!!! :)
Lyli @ 3dLessons4Life says
What a sweet post about God’s grace! So thankful that your little man is back to himself — teething is no fun. This reminder about extending grace to others as they are “growing and adjusting” is beautiful. :)
futurehope says
thanks so much Lyli! :)
Laura Boggess says
Even though my boys are now teens, those toddler days still feel like only yesterday. I guess that’s a testament to how challenging they were at times :). Bless you, mothering is hard work. I think you are being a wonderful example of Jesus for him.
futurehope says
oh wow, that DOES say a lot for how difficult this is :P I guess that means it just keeps getting better though? *hopeful* :)
thanks so much for the encouragement!!!
Denise Oldham says
Praying for you.
futurehope says
Thank you Denise!
Bonnie Way says
Sounds like the day I’m dealing with… my 2-yr-old wants to nurse constantly and is being very whiny, which is a change from normal because usually she’s pretty happy playing with her older sister. It’s driving me nuts! So thanks for this reminder to show her grace, as I don’t know what she’s dealing with right now (teething, growing, etc).
futurehope says
awww those days are the hardest in my opinion! When I know what’s irritating him I find myself having much more grace… Not how it should be, but that’s how I am. Much harder to show grace when I don’t understand WHY… hope she gets past whatever is ailing her soon <3
Jen Ferguson says
Welcome to SDG! Oh, I have had weeks like this, too, and I am always amazed at how God speaks through my own little ones (sometimes loudly). So glad that you found grace and grace found you.
futurehope says
thanks so much!!! It truly is amazing how God shows Himself through simple every day moments with our kiddos…
Kate @ Teaching What Is Good says
Oh honey, I so remember those days! Take heart, I can tell you that they DO NOT LAST!! Keep faithfully tied into the heart of God (as you are doing with your time in the Word, letting Him refresh you) and your love and direction with your son WILL yield the peaceful fruit of righteousness!
Praying for refreshment for you today!
futurehope says
thank you so much for the prayers and encouragement Kate! :)
futurehope says
I’m so glad this was an encouragement to you Kathy!!! :)
Thanks for sharing your link up with me! I’m joining!!
Shell says
It’s hard for me to remember to be patient with my kids sometimes, for sure.
futurehope says
It’s hard for all of us! : ) learning and growing together <3
futurehope says
thanks for stopping by and sharing your post!!! :)
JDaniel4's Mom says
Grace is something that I pray for too along with the ability to divert my guy from heading down the path of fussing.
futurehope says
essential prayers for the mamas of toddlers ;)
Aleassa says
Oh goodness, I can certainly relate to this post! Teething toddlers make for lots of tantrums…sometimes its me throwing the tantrum! Thanks for sharing! I found you from the linkup on Denise in Bloom.
futurehope says
haha I totally agree! I’ve almost thrown a few tantrums in response to my guy too! ;)
Mindy Bowman says
Oh my…this brings back such memories! :) My daughter (who is now a college graduate) had such a temper! She would throw what I call “stand-up tantrums”. Totally hilarious now, but not at the time. I wanted to pull my hair out! Especially the time she decided to throw one in the middle of the store at the top of her lungs! LOL But the funny thing is I miss those days…they pass too quickly!
futurehope says
aww that’s so sweet <3 glad you can look back and laugh now!!! The days are passing so quickly!!! I can't imagine him starting school, much less finishing it!!! eeeek! it's all going by so fast!!! <3 thanks for sharing your story with me :) I love it!!!
Michelle says
Oh teething. I remember these times. I will admit that Advil and Tylenol were my friends at this time. There are still times though when I hear the kids waking up during my quiet time that I cring. I often wonder if God cringes when I wake up. When we focus more on Him and less on us then it quickly changes our mind set. Thank you for linking up your randomness this week.
futurehope says
Teething is really so sad :/ tylenol has definitely kept us both sane lots of times! lol
“When we focus more on Him and less on us then it quickly changes our mind set” – very wise words!!! thanks for sharing!!!
What Joy Is Mine says
When we become mothers, we think we will be the ones teaching but, sometimes, we are the ones learning. This was a great post! Thank you for being so open and for sharing at WJIM.
futurehope says
So true! I have had to dedicate an entire section of my blog to “what my son is teaching me” because he really does teach me so much!! <3 thanks for stopping by!
What Joy Is Mine says
Just wanted to let you know I am featuring this post tomorrow at WJIM. :o) Thank you for a great reminder in grace.
futurehope says
thanks so much!!! :)
KM Logan says
This is such a fabulous post, thank you so much for sharing it! I can so relate right now, my littles are always throwing tantrums.
futurehope says
awww sorry your littles are going through it too, but glad this was an encouragement to you <3
Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? says
Poor little guy and mommy. Did you figure anything out?
I always remember sometimes when my kids act really off that they actually ended up sick with an ear infection or something similar.
futurehope says
not officially. He was teething, and also the next week he went through several huge “growing up” milestones, so maybe that was jsut his little body’s way of preparing for it? I don’t really know, but thankfully it seems to be done with for now! :)
he’s still throwing tantrums/fits at times but not nearly what it was last week, and there seems to be more “reasoning” behind them when he throws them. lol
Michy (lovingourjourney.com) says
Yeah! thank you for linking!! I find myself using “use your words” a whole bunch when we’re nearing that upset moment….of course, having food ready BEFORE startvation sets in helps me! Yikes!
:) Blessings!
futurehope says
oooh having food does seem to avoid many problems doesn’t it! lol
“use your words” is a very common one I’m noticing. funny, it’s so simple but extremely essential!
Alena@TheHomemadeCreative says
We’re going through this right now, with our 14 month old daughter. It’s reassuring to know we’re not alone – and so encouraging to know I’m not the only mom who handles tantrums with grace and not punishment!! I feel pretty alone in my circles, in that respect. Thank you for being REAL ♥
Star says
Sharp thignikn! Thanks for the answer.