Breakfast

Locals recently decided to gather and enjoy a game, or several, of flag football every Saturday morning during college football season. We love to go & watch the Mr. play! It's a privilege to see him let go & have fun!

Game time is 8am. This is not a problem for our family. We are early risers. The girls aren't necessarily early breakfast eaters so we take appropriate breakfast items for them to enjoy at the field. J is stubborn & recently decided she doesn't need breakfast, or lunch, but sometimes dinner, and treats anytime. This morning she wanted a sucker for breakfast.

How did those darn things end up in our bag! I can't give her a sucker for breakfast! It's against my moral code. J got angry and started pouting and kicking. She changes tactics! "Fruit snack!"

Gr.... She won't eat the apples or plums her sisters are enjoying.

She doesn't want the whole grain crackers. Finally, she ends up eating a fiber one bar... pretty much sugar with a titch of fiber.

It's frustrating because J's attitude has been changing these past weeks. She's watching the tantrums and arguments of M & C and mimicking them. NOT OK! Her sweetness is being replaced by rudeness, she demands things, and throws an hour long tantrum when she doesn't get them. They say to ignore negative behavior. So, I walk around her tantrum straightening or cleaning or cooking while she lays there for up to an hour crying, rolling, and kicking.

I admit when I was young and imagined the family I would someday have, everyone had smiling faces, everyone spoke respectfully, and everyone cooperated. That is pure joy! It seems like family life is the opposite most of the time. Obviously, it's a product of environment. I have to change. Change is hard. It's hard when you are making the changes, but it's a million times harder when you're trying to guide changes in your family. I can set a goal and work towards it and achieve it. Somethings are SO hard!

Tonight at the General Relief Society Broadcast Sister Beck quoted the recently deceases Sister Smith. Her final counsel to her family was to respect the noble women of the church. When she said that, I desired to instill in my daughters respect of the great women of the church. I had a visualization of myself falling to my knees every time M starts a rant of unhelpfulness, orneryness, or disrespectfulness. I will pray for the love and patience and inspiration I need to parent her appropriately.

Today I learned:

1. Check the snack bag before leaving the house.

2. Don't give in to J just because she's the youngest. Be as diligent as I was with the 1st.

3. I cannot do this right by myself. It is better to fall on my knees humbly before my Maker and ask for His guidance than it is to get upset at M's rants.