Whew! What a morning I’m having with Eby. I’ve been digging deep into every tool in my therapeutic toolbox and not coming up with much. I’ve tried meeting sensory needs, emotional needs, physical needs, and the misery has culminated in a heavy cup being thrown and hitting Honeybee on the head. She wasn’t having a great morning either and that was the final straw for her.
After much drama, rolling on the floor (Eby, not me), rocking in the “ugly chair”, talking – but trying to use few words, his only explanation was, “I’M GRUMPY!”
I thought about it for moment and then announced we were going to pray to Jesus and then have a snack. I said a quick prayer, told him to wait in the chair while I made him a snack, and got busy fixing a bowl of rice with soy sauce, Tabasco sauce, and grated cheese – not my comfort food, but Eby loves it. I looked back into the family room just in time to see Eby hugging Honeybee and asking her to forgive him. He came to the kitchen with a smile on his face and dove into his snack.
I just made some fresh coffee and we are starting our morning all over again. I am so thankful to God who forgives us and let’s us begin our day, and our very lives, over again.
Don’t forget to leave a comment for the Adoption Rocks Giveaway!
~Lisa
His mercies are new every morning! Praise God!
That is so true!
Sometimes this was the only solution for the Tongginator, too… a bit of the familiar and a fresh start. Glad y'alls day got better.
Thank you TM. I like fresh starts!
AMEN! Nothing sweeter than seeing a sincerely repentive heart in our children!
Wish I had someone to make my favorite comfort food when I wake up grumpy :-) Hope the rest of the day has been calmer for everyone!
Joy, do you think my kids would bake chocolate chip cookies first thing on a grumpy morning?
Sorry you had a rough start…. but it sure is nice to know I am not alone :-) We've been at this adoption thing for 9 weeks with 6 year old twins and it's been pretty intense because I'm potty training them. I can't turn my back for a second and we have had a lot of "grumpy" tantrums to deal with. On your recommendation I went looking for Purvis material. Received the book yesterday. . . too bad I'm too tired to read it :-)
Angela, be sure to get help and some sleep. If you can get a friend to come over and stay with the kids long enough for you to get a nap, it will help. Or take a walk by yourself. The more depleted you get, the harder it is to parent at this level. It is intense! Do what you can to make everything else in your life simple. Also, if you are too tired to read, try watching the Karyn Purvis videos: http://empoweredtoconnect.org/content-types/video…
I sure wish you lived closer, but I am glad you are only a click away. I agree that sometimes you just have to pray and start over. I'm also glad to hear of the genuine sorrow over hurting his sister and the forgiveness offered.
So many times at our house, the emotional build-up comes to a head in some sort of crisis, then the tears flow, and then it's all over. I hate the build-up, but I love the fresh start. (for both of us).
And I just laughed out loud at your rolling on the floor comment. I've come closer to that then you know. ;-)
And, finally, Angela, I'll be praying for you. Intense is the word of the day.
Julie
Julie, some day we at least need to meet! Yes, let's pray for Angela – I'm praying for her right now.
Well, "I'm Grumpy" is better than "AHHHHHHHH!!!" :)
Sounds like God intervened at just the right time!
Angela, praying for you and your precious children.
April, you are so right! At least he gave me words and told me how he felt.
Thanks for the kind words and the prayers!! I am sick with the flue but managed to keep going with advil today… I do have good help in my three teen girls. I could NOT do this without them. I am grateful the kids were pretty happy as we planted the gardens and worked outside most of the day. They are sun burned and ready for bed :-)
Angela, I'm sorry to hear about the flu. I also had a huge amount of help from my five oldest kids when our adopted children first arrived home. My big boys rescued me many times and my girls gave me breaks. Big kids are the best.
That is a beautiful ending to a stressful morning. Wishing all grumpy mornings could end that way. I have to say when I catch my Aspie daughter giving love to her little brothers after having been quite grumpy with them, it melts my heart!
Angela, I’m sorry to hear about the flu. I also had a huge amount of help from my five oldest kids when our adopted children first arrived home. My big boys rescued me many times and my girls gave me breaks. Big kids are the best.