My Son is teaching me so much!!!

This last month I have learned a lot from my (almost 3 year old) son! Real, hard, good, life lessons from him!

For example, today he came to me while I was making dinner, and said "okay I'm ready to eat!!" I said "okay its cooking!" Well his world apparently ended!! He through himself on the floor and started screaming, letting me know that my answer was not acceptable. So I gave him the same choice I always give him. Either stop the fit and stand up on his feet, or go to the timeout mat. Now the way we do it is that if he does not choose within 10 sec, we choose for him. So he sat there for too long and I chose for him. Want to guess what I Chose????? That's right, timeout mat. Well this did not sit right with him so he started hitting the wall. I told him he would have to get a swat if he hit the wall again...he looked straight at me and said "NO" and hit the wall! I followed through and as he sat back down, he said "okay mama, I gonna listen". His crying stopped and I called him to me. I explained what I still had to do to get dinner ready and that I would do it as fast as I could, but that he was going to have to wait. He said "ok mama" and after a hug, went back to playing. I always wonder why he has to make such a big deal out of something so small. But all my little boy could see was his hunger and his *want* for food. ( I know for a fact that he was not going to starve to death before dinner was ready). But when I stop and think about it...I am the same way. The Lord probably is up there looking at me and wondering why I am making such a big deal out of such small things. I throw my little fits and wonder "why me" and cry and kick and want want want!!! But the great thing is, that just as I am with Ben, the Lord is with me. I know that Ben was hungry and understood that he was only seeing that. I also knew that he needed to learn that his behavior was not acceptable, so we had to have a learning session. I also let him know that I loved him and explained to him what needed to happen and that he would have to wait. My heavenly Father does the same for me. I know He understands, and sees the whole picture. I know that he must teach me and help me learn what I need to, (most of the time patients) and most of all I know He loves me. In the end, Ben was fine, ate his dinner (and his sisters left overs) and things were good. I know sometimes I worry or fret over things and then in hind sight think to myself how crazy I was to even be worried about it. And even though I may need to sit on the time out mat from time to time, as it is with Ben, I hope those times become fewer and fewer as I learn my lessons as a child of God.

I sure love my boy!!!!