Coming out of the Storm

There is a burden we carry as parents to train and teach our children in the way they should go.  The first 5 years are supposedly some of the hardest...those are the discipline years where all of the "rules" are laid out and taught to be obeyed regardless...right?  I find no coincidence in the fact that the 4th year for both Caroline and Wyatt have been the most difficult thus far.  It has been a stormy few months for my dear Wyatt.
You can almost see the storm clouds that lurk above his head these past 8 months...almost as he blew out the candles on his 4th birthday cake the push back began.  The testing of all that we had taught the first 4 years of life...did we REALLY mean it...would we REALLY  still discipline.  Would we ride out his storm and just pull our heads in, cover up with a towel, and brace our selves for what he would bring.

OR....

Would we call to the Lord and say "Jesus help"...and watch HIM calm the storm.

There were days I felt like I was just bracing myself for what kind of anger, and venom it almost felt like would pour out of him.  Anger at playing with Hope.  Anger and me for asking him to help.  He had this way of saying "Momma" that started low and then increased in volume and pitch...not pretty.  But you know you get in your rut, and you think oh it isn't really that bad...then he calls your name that way in public...and it horrify's you.  I found myself asking myself which was the lesser of the two evils and trying to choose a path that would be the least likely to awaken the storm....

but then...

I believe the Lord allows us to see our children clearly.  I prayed earnestly throughout the day my simple "Jesus help" prayer...help me to really SEE him..to see him 10-15 years down the line and what that would look like should the behavior really go unchecked.  When I heard him say "Momma" that way in public...I was horrified...I should have been horrified at home too...so he and I had a little chat.  A chat about what was allowed, tone of voice, looks, no more pouting of lips, no more hands on hips, no more stomping of your foot.  Discussing that it is alright to be mad, and even tell me you are mad...however, you will not be disrespectful in your anger to me.

His storm raged against me.  Several trips for spanks, and hugs, and "I Love You no matter what" were had...and slowly...his storm is quieting.  It has been about 4 weeks...and I feel Wyatt is emerging.  His storm is less...in fact I heard this from his sweet mouth today.  "Come on Hope, let's play store.  Can I push your shopping cart?  Okay, thanks."  And then later in the car to her, "Hope, if you get scared just remember that God is always with you.   And I will be there to help you if you fall down."

It is a beautiful picture...after the storm.  The peace.  The fresh clean landscape.  He is emerging.

Dear reader.  There is a storm that rages in each of us I believe.  We either learn to quiet it at 4...or 14, or 24...letting the Lord quiet our storms is crucial.  Learning it at a young age, so then they are armed with that truth later in life...when the rage just can't seem to be quieted...or the anguish...or the loneliness...or fear...hopefully they will remember those are the lies...not the fact that He is always with us.  Help your littles...stand up to the storm and ask Him to quiet them...don't endure and brace yourself...say "Be still."  It has been oh so hard to watch him this past year.  To feel almost embarrassed by his choices...then remembering he is just 4...I still need to train and teach him...it will pay off.  It is paying off.  You can do it sweet reader...they need you to.