I was woken up at 4:00 in the morning (after being up with Colin until 1:00) to the sound of Miles crying. He told me he needed to go potty so I took him into the bathroom. When we got back to bed he wouldn't let me put a pull-up back on. I have been leaving his door open at night lately and so I told him not to wet the bed, but to go potty if he needed to go again. From then until about 7:00 he came in my room every 20-30 minutes and told me he needed to go potty. I took him the first few times then I just started calling to him that he needed to go by himself. Then Colin woke up at about 8:00 and Miles came in about ten minutes later and we were officially up for the rest of the day. I put Miles down for a nap at 12:00 and he finally fell asleep at 3:00 in the afternoon. Colin had horrible naps today, thanks to my in-laws dog barking and his brother's crying waking him up. On a day when I really needed a nap after only getting four hours of sleep, my boys sleep schedules did not coincide at all and one of them was alternately up all day long.
Not my best day as a mom.
I know we all have days like this. I was reminded of a small book I read not too long ago by Marjorie Hinckley, entitled "Is this what I was born to do?"
She first discusses the Bible story of Esther. How she saved her people the Jews from extermination by her strength and her fortitude. Esther's uncle Mordecai encourages her by saying, "Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"
Sister Hinckley gives examples of different women's difficult situations. The challenges of our day to be homemakers amid the pressures of the world. The challenge of raising children in these times.
I have a very strong willed little boy. Lately I have been very frustrated in knowing how to raise him in love and with patience while still being firm.
In this book Sister Hinckley quotes Elaine Cannon, "A women's significant role is that of being an influence wherever she is. It is her role not only to give life, but to shape life."
She goes on to say;"Let us not waste our time saying with bitterness, "Is this what I was born to do?" Let us rather ask ourselves the question that was asked of Esther: "Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"
I remember a conversation I had with a dear friend in discussing our children and their strong wills. That friend expressed her opinion that the Lord is sending his strongest children at this time because they are going to need that strength to resist the adversary and his snares in these last days.
I hope when the temptation comes again, as it did today, to say "Is this fair? Is this what I was born to do?" I can remember "Who knoweth whether (I) am come to the kingdom for such a time as this. " To be Miles' mommy and to "shape" that strong will of his and to help him to grow into a righteous man.
