That Parenting Post

I jotted down these thoughts tonight as Zach was putting, no battling, Copelynn to sleep and wanted to share them....my first "parenting" post. I am excited that I can post about parenting for real now. I like this privilege.

Kids will go as far as we let them. They naturally will do what they're not supposed to.  They will break the rules and test the limits. As parents we HAVE to be the ones to set clear boundaries of what is okay, what is not okay, and what is expected of them.  The thing that goes hand in hand with this is consistency.  Boundaries without consistency are no good. 

Kids are smart...We give in once and they take it for all that it is worth.  Even my 8.5 month old has demonstrated this very clearly! It's impressive how smart they are at such a young age.  

But I believe that just as they're good at testing the limits, they're also good at living inside the lines when they KNOW and have been SHOWN what those lines are.

My personal issue in this realm of life has been consistency.  I get a fire under my butt with limits and boundaries (mostly talking about sleep in regards to Copelynn since she's still so young) but when I'm tired, frustrated, or having a weak day, I get lazy and loose all of the progress that was made.

These thoughts about boundaries and consistency have made me realize that my baby's sleep problems are no one's fault but my own.  

Being a mom has been the hardest job I've ever had.  Teaching Copelynn how to sleep has been one of the most challenging processes, too.  But if I want her to stop eating twice at night and stop waking up 3-4 times a night I have to show her what to expect....I have to over and over and over again show her not expect to nurse every time she wakes and that it isn't okay to not go back to sleep in her crib at 4:30am.  

It will take a week or two of consistency, but if I stay on track and don't waver she WILL learn.  And she will live inside the lines. 

Our kids can't live inside the lines if we do not keep the boundaries for them. We have to do our job first if we want them to do theirs. 

In my sleep battle with Copelynn and in whatever yours is with your little ones: may we be consistent parents. In the moments that we feel weak, may the Lord be our strength. When we feel like no progress is being made, may we remember that each day of consistency is a baby step forward.  May we keep going when we want to quit.  May we love our kids enough to be these kind of parents.