Dave got the heads up this morning that we were going to have a couple of "special" talks on reverence today as the Stake Presidency was a little concerned about how loud our sacrament meetings have become. I thought ~ great, let's prep the kids ~ I told them that they were to be on their best behavior, no snacks, no toys, no talking, you get the idea...
The meeting went pretty smooth until the Bishop got up. He very tenderly started talking about how important it is that we teach our children about the sacrament...it was at that moment that my family fell a part. Eden and Luke started fighting and Liza and Tucker started screaming---did I mention we were on the second row? I grabbed Luke and put him in a body hold and motioned for Dave to get Tuck and Liza out. Dave left with Liza and Tuck (so I thought...) and next thing you know, Tucker is up on the stand running back and forth behind the Bishop. My sweet friend sitting next to me jumped up to get Tuck, but he of course once he saw her, he started running the opposite direction (still on the stand behind the bishop.) Not wanting to chase him, she gave up.. he then stopped running and started yelling to his girlfriend Anna on the front row about "his train named Thomas and will you come and play with me." Now mind you, the Bishop had no idea what was going on behind him and was still speaking to the young families in the ward about how important it is to keep your children quiet.
I released Luke from his hold and headed to the stand to catch my monkey. As I got up there he started running again. The congregation was now laughing hysterically - which clued the Bishop in that there was something entertaining going on behind him. He then stopped his talk and turned to watch me tackle all 45 pounds of the kid, grab him by the sweater and drag him out the side door. As I was leaving (tears streaming down my face) the Bishop very jokingly said "don't hurt him" HA HA HA!
As I was dragging him down the hall contemplating his punishment, a small voice (that sounded just like my mother) whispered "paybacks, honey, paybacks"
I cried a good cry today...wondered what on earth I could do to be a better mother. The answer? who knows. I am not perfect, so far from it, but I am sick of beating myself up every day for imperfections.
Tucker looks so much like a Collings but is really just a Bianca in a boy's body. I was such a handful (for many years) and now realize how much energy was spent trying to tame me. My sweet mother often remarks that those silly quirks and outrageous personalities once tamed turned into some of our greatest strengths. So instead of trying to break the wild horse ~ I will love him. I will listen to him. I will play with him. I will hold him. I will cry for him. I will pray for him. What more can one really offer?
Comments
You ARE a good mother ~ and you will raise your kids the best that you are able.
(and really -- with 130+ kids in our ward under the age of 12 WHAT do they WANT from us?!)
But you are right, when all is said and done all we can do is love these little ones and pray that someday they will grow out of the wild and craziness! But by the time that happens, we will look back and miss them as little boys, who say the cutest things and who love us unconditionally and completely!
Being a mom of boys has been the hardest thing I have ever done in my life- so I completely understand- especially since my boys come from the same gene pool. So hang in there! I am on your side and I am still trying to figure all this out myself. So if you do figure out how to tame them- let me know!
I have three boys who do nothing but egg each other on. I think the same thing as you describe over and over and over again - what am I doing wrong?? Turns out I'm doing everthing right because I have happy kids who just love to embrace life. (it drives me nutty and makes my house filthy).
I'm planning on a trip to SEA at the end of Feb. I hope this time I can see you. Chase is walking!!
I love this story, it brightened my day today. I could picture the whole thing. It will be one of those great memories that you can tell Tucker about when the same thing happens to him. I feel the same way of not being able to live up to the expectations that I have set for myself for my kids. I had a similiar thing happen in a ward in Ohio. You have a great bishop and I am sure he wanted to chuckle himself a bit. Your a great mom with great kids, and each one of them have a unique and wonderful spirit.
You really are a great mom and this really did make the sunshine on such a dismal day.