My Kids, My Teachers!

I am constantly learning so much from my children but this week I learned especially a lot! When I woke up I thought it was a normal day, Merik, however had other plans! Immediately he was a disaster and wouldn't let me enter the kitchen! Well that progressed into a full on fit that then took a hour to do a 2 minute time-out! I was so exhausted and frustrated! I sat him on my lap and with him crying and saying he was "sorry mommy, I not do it again" I had hope. Well my hope didn't last long when we walked back into the kitchen (still neither of us having anything to eat) and because I couldn't hold him while he drank his shake he turned to me and dumped it all over the floor! I just stood there. I didn't even know what to do! I was stunned and immediately defeated as a mother! Whose child does that? So again we started the time-out process with him running out, and me standing him in the corner again until I was so fed up I decided I was done and he could stay in his room until he decided to be in time-out. Well....his door doesn't have a lock on it (or didn't that day, but yes it does now) so I had to stand there and hold it shut with all of my strength-and he's strong! Meanwhile poor Karma is crying for attention and because Merik's out-of-control ranting and screaming is scary. I finally couldn't hold the door or my tears any longer so I grabbed Karma and we went to call my mom! After some reassuring words and great advice I felt ready to deal with Merik but very discouraged as a mom! This is my only job and I'm obviously failing if he'd act like that. Needless to say it was a VERY long day as a mother and as me. Later that day, I was trying to pick up the disaster of a house and I heard this excited voice from the play room. As I walked in I saw a beaming face and he announced "Mommy, I cleaned all by myself!" I knelt down next to him and just started to cry! My crazy, naughty, or as my grandma calls him, exuberant little boy was so sweet and kind hearted! I told him thank you and how much that meant to me; and he told me that he needed to tell Heavenly Father that he'd cleaned by himself. I was speechless as he knelt down in the middle of the playroom floor and offered the most innocent and heartfelt prayer. It was so simple! "Heavenly Father, I cleaned up all by myself and mommy cried! I love you. Say these things..." Well I thought I was crying before? Wow! I learned so much from my children and from his prayer I learned that I need to pray not just in repentance, not just in asking, and not just in gratitude for the big things. But I need to tell my Heavenly Father when I succeed and do things right so he can let me feel proud. I love my kids!