How Bad Could it Be? | Previous Challenge Entry

how it works

TITLE: How Bad Could it Be? | Previous Challenge Entry
By
10/16/14
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“Please, Mom, can I go,” pleaded my 6-year-old, bouncing boy. He never seemed to quit moving. Riding bikes, digging big holes in the yard, climbing trees – that is how he conquered life. Lots of activity. Reluctantly, I told him yes. Our neighbor wanted him to join their daughter at a Wednesday night kid’s service. How bad could it be – an hour at a new church without me, what could possibly go wrong?
Since it was his first visit, I took him to the door and bent down to look him in the eye. “Nathan, please be a good boy. Listen to your teacher when she talks to you. “
Head bouncing up and down in agreement, “Okay, mamma.”
“You can’t be running around like a wild man either. You must sit and listen.” Once again, head bounces. “And please don’t pee outside. Make sure you use the bathroom.” (He’s a boy, we live in the country. Don’t judge.)
He looked at me and said, “You aren’t staying are you?”
“No, that’s why you must listen to my rules.” He waved and ran off to tell the teacher his latest adventure. It’s only an hour how bad can it be?
An hour later, I returned. I walked through the doors of the church waving to a few familiar faces, stopping to chat with a few others. Finally, I made it to the swinging, double-doors that separated me and my precious boy. With all confidence in my parenting ability, I pushed the doors opened, expecting a smiling teacher that gave me a glowing report of how well my little man behaved. Imagine my confidence melting to the floor, as I walked through the door, seeking my son in the large group of children, only to find him – missing.
I looked around the room, walking toward the teacher, ready to ask about my son’s where-a-bouts, when he came sprinting out of a back room with a pencil hanging out of his mouth, crashing into my body. I bent down, took the pencil from his mouth, and asked, “What are you doing?”
“I’m showing them my dance moves!”
I must have looked confused because the teacher began to fill in the blanks for me. “He wanted to show the class his dance moves all night.”
“What dance moves,” I asked, even more confused. Nathan must have taken this as an invitation, because he broke into quite an impressive arm flinging, leg spreading move that had me quite speechless. I mumbled an apology to the young, childless teacher and grabbed my dancers hand and led him to the car. My confidence was left in a puddle on the floor.
I turned to him and said, “Nathan, mommy is very sad that you did not follow the rules.”
Without a bit of remorse, he confidently answered, “But Mom, I didn’t pee outside.”
With that, I was left seeking God for wisdom in raising this little ball of energy. I can’t have confidence in my rules or my ability. I can only have confidence in God to give me what I need to parent one moment at a time, thanking Him for the smallest of favors!

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