For the past month, Lee and I have been teaching ourselves to enjoy his nap time. I say it has been a training for both of us, because I think that - ultimately - the training has been for me. The first two weeks, I was selfishly wanting to get things done around the house, but I was unsure about my feelings regarding the "crying it out" technique. (I am still convinced that Lee could sense my hesitation.) After our four-month visit to the pediatrician, we started over, and stuck out a long week together.
What this sleep training has shown me is that I am already having to decide what kind of parent I will be (I thought the hard stuff came later?). Recently, a friend mentioned to me that he has often been led astray simply by choosing to take the path of least resistance. Boy, would I have liked to be taking the path of least resistance with nap time the past few weeks! But this will not necessarily teach Lee what he needs to learn, so I now know I will have to guard against the temptation to put off Lee's lessons until later just to make things easier on myself.
Apparently, God has a few things to teach me as I travel down this road of becoming a parent.
3 comments:
Some wise friends told us with Haddie to "start as you mean to go". It took a while for me to get what they meant, but I think it's what you are talking about here. Think about your child in a year, or two, or ten, and the kind of person you hope they will be, then start looking for ways now to teach them accordingly. And I totally agree that these lessons are as much- or more- for us as they are for our children. In God's economy, it seems close relationships work like this- growing in one spurs growing in the other. I love that.
girl, i know it is so hard. but you really have done the best thing for him. and that is what i think is one of the hard things about parenting...sometimes the best things for them are the most painful for us.
when do i get to see big lee???
You are doing an amazing job in your learning to parent ( BTW, they come quite selfish themselves ) and I know that as you seek God first, then you and Bryan agree, it really doesn't matter what else anyone else thinks. You are the parents that God has chosen for Lee....and you both are doing a super job...Keep it up!
I am so proud to be Mimi...give him a BIG hug !!!
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