parenting takes courage

Parenting takes courage. Not all of us have to face that...many of us have kids who do pretty well with the combo of our built-in value systems and the culture we live in. But for those who don't, parenting them requires incredible fortitude.

-Asha D.

http://www.parenthacks.com

This comment spoke loudly to me. No wonder J and I feel so exhausted at the end of each day. Incredible fortitude takes a lot of energy! We don't have an ordinary experience in parenting. Ours is extraordinary. And I'd not trade it for anything in all the world. But, it's nice, every once in a while, to have it validated. Nicer still to know, in our heart of hearts, that extraordinary will triumph.

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see," (Hebrews 11:1)

Telling

You can pretty much tell what kind of afternoon Em and Roo had by their conversation after they went to bed.

As I listened in via the baby monitor I heard Em rolling through our prayer list. With a twist.

"No no, Mama. No no, Roo. No no, Jonah. No no, Mammaw..."

And from Roo's side I heard, "Sit down. Sit down. Sit down. Sit down."

For the finale there was a "Stop it right now."