...make fruit cake, and then start a food fight. Because, that's the way I ride baby.”
-Written by the Joe, for the Joe
I don't know why it is, but for me one of the biggest frustrations of being a parent is brushing and flossing my kids teeth.
I recognize that the timing is wrong. Don't do anything stressful when tired. The kids are tired, I'm tired. Its amazing how tired I am at 7:30 at night.
The motivations are also wrong. I'm Speed Racer, I want those teeth flossed and brush. After the flossing comes the brushing, then the reading and praying and then? It's Joe-Time. The kids motivation to brush? Hey, never is too soon for them.
Then there's the minor pain of sensitivity. Over zealous floss that catches on teeth and then slams into the gum.
Some times there's major pain too when the tooth brush slips out of their mouth and into their eye. Mud in your eye nothing, try mint in your eye.
The squirming, the whining, the complaining, the crying really bug me. Really, really bug me. Neither I, nor the kids enjoy this part of the bedtime routine.
Because it has been so hard, I started to pray to know what to do to make it bearable. A few weeks ago I felt inspired that if I just smile and laugh while I brush their teeth things will work out.
The amazing this is that brushing their teeth isn't become just bearable, it is becoming pretty fun too.
Cy likes for me to tell him stories. Andrew likes to laugh and be silly. They both like me to make up songs. Even just laughing for no reason is fun (try it). It's amazing how happy I can feel when I just start laughing.
Anyway, the Lord says:
“And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.”
I am impressed with how this “thing” that was such a weakness is becoming a strength. It was something I dreaded, now its getting fun.
I am impressed that in such a simple way the Lord has helped me become better, I am excited to work on my other big weaknesses, and I feel like they won't just get bearable or manageable, they will become strengths. Hopefully strengths that make me laugh too.
2 comments:
I have managed to pass the teeth brushing duty onto Chad. Most nights Chad is very patient with them and they are very cooperative. Then there are some horrible nights. At the end of the day the last thing I want to do is deal with the whining, complaining kids I have had to deal with all day. For the times when I have to do it I will keep in mind to smile more.
Yeah... It's hard to get motivated for teeth brushing time. Some days it's good, some it's not. I will say though that I thought I was the only one that repeatedly would poke a kid in the eye with the toothbrush! Thanks for your confession, makes me feel a little better.
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