Last Updated on March 20, 2018
My 6-year-old is running away.
Apparently I’m the worst mommy ever! And I don’t even know what I did this time! I mean usually I have an inkling … I held her accountable for her behavior, said “no,” or didn’t give her what she wants in a timely enough fashion to suit her. But this time … honestly I’m not sure how I became the worst!
She is actually angry at her older sister, and I guess since I birthed said older sister I’m to blame for my little girl’s angst.
Anyway, she is trotting up the street with determination and anger showing in every stomp of her feet. You may be wondering why I’m typing while she is stomping up the hill by our house … I’ll tell you.
I’m tired.
Honestly, just tired. That hill is steep and I’m tired of my children manipulating the situation by their behavior.
My neighborhood is safe. My neighbors are wonderful. And I know she’ll come back in a little bit.
Oh, see my plan worked … the front door just slammed and in burst my little girl. All huffy and puffy. Golly I love that little thing. She’s feisty and fun even as she drives me up a wall–or up the street!
She pranced over to me and said, “I hope you have fun without me.”
I said, “Oh please stay, we’d sure like to play with you. We need you to be the librarian in our school.”
She is thinking about it. I’m still the worst but at least she is staying in the house.
The running away has been averted … for now.
Sometimes I think God has brought me to a good place with parenting.
I don’t overreact as much to things. I used to worry more and be quite easily manipulated by my children and their emotions and behavior.
It still happens, but not as frequently. I’ve decided to be less of a crazy mom and more of a calm mom.
Sometimes I succeed.
There are lots of verses about trusting, not being anxious, keeping calm. I’ve always applied those verses to myself … the way I think about life in general. Not about how I approach things in particular.
Today I’m thinking that I could apply those verses particularly to parenting.
So right now I’m going to apply Philippians 4:6-7 to my parenting:
“Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
I don’t need to be anxious about my children because:
- I can pray powerful prayers on their behalf.
- I can be thankful for the blessing of my children
- I can be confident that God loves them as relentlessly and passionately as He loves me.
- I can lay my fears and failures at His feet and leave them there.
- I can have God’s peace keeping my thoughts sane and my emotions tame.
God’s got this whether it’s my 6-year old running away or me wanting to! I’m so thankful that I can entrust my children to God and trust Him with everything!
Sue Birdseye is an author and communicator who shares the adventures she has on her unexpected journey of single parenting. She went from the typical “picket fence” kind of life to being a single mom to five beautiful children. She has learned what it means to be totally dependent upon the Lord and how beautiful that dependence is. Her change of life circumstances has led to a passionate desire to encourage and bless other moms no matter their life circumstances. She has been active in her community as a foster/adoptive mom and public school teacher. She has also been part of her church’s worship, discipleship, women’s, and children’s ministries. She is an avid book reader, a game night hoster, and an early morning writer. Her book “When Happily Ever After Shatters” is the story of how God stepped into her life and the lives of her children just when everything seemed to be falling apart. She hopes that her writing will encourage, bless, and maybe even make someone smile.