söndag, september 11, 2011

VERY thankful


Esther has entered into a new phase of life. AND MAY I ANNOUNCE THAT IT IS A HUGE RELIEF. She has, you see, left the whining-whining-whining phase, it seems. You know, the one that seemed to start around 2-ish and didn't start winding down until a few weeks ago, around after passing the 3 and 3/4ths mark.

Her behavior and attitudes and overall general mood and contentment have vastly and noticeably improved in the past two or three weeks. We're not exactly sure what brought this on, but I would theorize that it is a combination of things:

--She started school again. It is the kind of place where she can have a social outlet, both with adults and peers, can take some responsibility for herself and for her sister, and can have other authority figures in her life besides just her parents. All of this has combined to make her more self-confident and more stimulated and just more content somehow.

--I have changed my diet and thus am eating healthier, which has given me more energy and a clearer head, and I think I might have started dealing with her small annoyances in a wiser way, which helped the minor ones not turn into major ones enough consecutive times that we may have successfully broken a detrimental pattern.

--When the kids are at school I can get a lot of work done during the day, so I am not stressed out in the afternoons or evenings and can thus spend real quality time with them during those times and not constantly be thinking about the need to get some work done.

--And I am sure there are several other factors, like her just maturing in terms of her age, and other such things. Also, I have specifically prayed for peace in her thoughts, will and emotions nearly every day for the past few weeks.

Whatever may have caused this wonderful change for the better in her, I am exceedingly thankful and it makes my life SO much easier and more enjoyable. She and I have lots and lots of great conversations about all kinds of things and we really really really enjoy spending time together. Sometimes she will just turn to me with that look on her face and say, "Mamma, I really like to be with you." She is such a cool kid, and I am really thankful. (interestingly, however, Sylvia's such phase has just kicked in. Help!)

6 kommentarer:

Amber sa...

I guess you have to be thankful that they're not both going through it at the same time.

Hennyfair sa...

Great to hear! And happy for Miss Esther! I'm sure she's enjoying life more now, too!

Sarah Oyerinde sa...

This is a great testimony. I've heard another one similar in the past 24 hours - in which child was going through some tough times and parents kept praying, and suddenly child snapped out of it. It's a very wonderful testimony. Very encouraging. I know that I've got some prayer work to do in my own life and for my own children. :o)

karen sa...

So I guess we have a ways to go, then.... Natalie turns 3 in a month and a half, which means I've got approximately one year left of the whiny, fussy phase? ;) Oh boy!

Congrats on one passing through, and hope that miss Sylvia's phase is a little shorter :)

Our Journey sa...

OH I remember that 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 age! It really isn't two's as much as it was 3's!! And yes, whinning - -that was it! Throwing herself on the floor crying about everything. Then just as your cutie -- right almost @ 4 for
Anne Marie, it was over! whooohooo! Just know as you're going through it again, there is an end!! :)

Anonym sa...

Speaking from the perspective of a mother of grown ups now, I am happy to tell you that experience shows that kids who whine A LOT the first two times around (that is, the round Esther's just finished and Sylvia is just starting, and the one that starts around 6 and ends half way through 7) tend to have an easier time when they are teenagers. Which is good. Really good. It's hard enough to be a teenager as it is. So the whining is something to be happy about, it's good for them. Tough, on them as well as on family, but good.
All the best,
Morrica