At what point is "patience" no longer the best course of action? How many times should you tell a kid not to do something before actually expecting them to comply? My expectation is one. I should tell the kid one time. After that, consequences are in order. What's amazing to me is how the words aren't even out of my mouth and the child is looking me right in they eye and doing it A.G.A.I.N. Sigh. This parenting thing can be really tiresome. Maybe I should have more patience? Something tells me no, there's no excuse for deliberate bad behavior. If I said "don't lean on that door and push it back that way" and then the kid sits down and starts pushing it with their foot, should I have patience for that? In my mind its just disobedience, and I don't think I'm supposed to tolerate it. But then I feel like the impatient/mean/bad guy. And when I discipline one it causes the other to start crying too, so then I feel double bad. Maybe I'm over-thinking the whole thing. I don't think I'm cut out for this parenting thing. Its a good thing I've got a backup plan, a Helper who's stronger than me, more wise and loving than I could ever hope to be.
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.
~ 1 Corinthians 16:13-14
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