Which Way?

Sunday morning Turner had a meltdown.  He loves going to church but he can’t stand being in the kindergarten room for 3-1/2 hours.  I don’t blame him.  He is in school all week, we are in Freedom’s Gift practice Saturdays and Sundays which leaves Turner without his parents undivided attention alot-ALOT!  I don’t like this. I initially dropped out of the production because of Turner but was asked to come back because someone had to drop. 

When it was time to get ready for church the other morning, Turner was standing in the corner of his room on his bed with his hands in his jammies saying, “I don’t want to go it is too long!”  I had to stop and think for a minute.  My son is trying to tell me something.  He is saying, “I need you, I miss you and I don’t want to do this anymore.”  He was defiant in getting dressed and made it very clear he was not going to obey me.

Which way do I go with this situation? I could discipline him for disobeying me and make him get dressed with force.  Not a good option.  God spoke to me so quickly. He made me realize that my action at this point could dictate his view of church and how he could possibly feel about God later. 

I said to him, “Turner, it is a long time in class.  I realize we are really busy and that you want our time and I am sorry that it has been this way.  I need your help today Turner.  I promised Brian I would be at church to help.  I will see what I can do about next Sunday.  Can you get dressed and help mommy today?”  He hugged me and got dressed. 

The important thing is that children need to be listened to.  Even when we are in a hurry and don’t have time to deal with getting our children dressed.  In their young hearts, they are still learning how to deal with their own feelings and how to express themselves.  When we respond in a way that acknowledges their feelings, speak to them with understanding and explain in simple ways for them to grasp, the situation can be resolved quickly. 

Here is the cool thing.  I do not have to be at Kingdom Kids because the director took care of it.  Next year Turner will be in the class and he will love big group.  I think the most important lesson to learn from this is to never sacrifice your family on the alter of church ministry. God gave me the responsibilty to minister to my family first.  We are to be involved in church ministry but not to the extent that it could harm the spiritual growth our child.

How not to take a test!

I have been studying for the RMA(registered medical assistant) exam through the AMT for the past month.  I have put this off for years(20) because in Washington State the Nursing Board governs certification and there is no need as long as you have gone to an accredited school.  I was in the Navy as a Hospital Corpsman.  In Illinois there is no governing state board so hospitals and clinics require a national certification by an accredited body.

I wish I would have gone further in my education to become a physician but God did not have this for me.  Maybe he did but I did not follow.  He gave me a wonderful family and I would not sacrifice the family over my own ambition or success.  God gave me a duty and responsibility to be a mommy and a wife and I cherish this.   Who knows, maybe when the kids are older I can look into this but until then I am a mommy and a wife!

So anyway, the test scared the crud out of me by question #2.  I studied a book that I ordered from Amazon.  NONE OF THE STUFF I STUDIED WAS ON THE TEST.  So here is how it went:

1.  Half way through-crying(thinking I am going to fail)

2. Getting to the end of the test and saying “forget it, you failed just finish it and no reason to review your answers”

3. End of test: putting my face in my hands when the result came up on the screen.

4. Peeking through my fingers to see if the screen says pass or fail.

5. ”PASS”-HOLY TOLEDO OHIO BATMAN!

6.  Leaving and getting my score:  Scoring scale: 0(being worst) to 99(best)

7.  My score 99-you have got to be kidding me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

8.  Okay who botched the scoring? 

9.  Praise GOD!

Anyway, I am thankful for God’s providence over me through the test.  I am thankful for Jim because he gave me alot of time to study.  My kids were patient and this was a huge help.  Nugget of wisdom: Worrying through the test did absolutely nothing for me other than needing to go to the bathroom, give me a headache and a yucky stomach ache.  Oh, one last thing-make sure the study material you have is a suggested resource by the test giver! Good suggestion-wish I would have done this!