Battle Field

 

Sammy, Sammy, Sammy......

In Wal-Mart (about 2 minutes into the store) Sam grabbed a CARS PEDS dispenser and said "look at this mommy, if I buy this I won't buy anything else"

I thought well no kidding but your not getting that either....

I told him to put it back and battle #1 started. Well that battle got him put into the cart kicking and screaming and when he finally quit he said he wanted to walk.

I agreed but told him if he grabbed stuff off the shelves or ran off I was putting him back in the cart. Well not more than 1 minute later he started battle #2, he was being really rude with the cart and trying to push it into things on the ends of the isle. Enough was enough and I put him back into the cart.

He screamed and screamed, and screamed, and screamed, and screamed, and screamed, and screamed.

There were people that were peaking their head around corners (I'm sure to make sure the child wasn't being beat) and OH MY STARS the looks I was getting! Either there were a lot of people in that store that have never had children or a lot of people who have perfect children because I was at the receiving end of some awful looks.

What a nightmare. We were in the store a total of 15 minutes or so and I'm pretty sure it's safe to say he screamed about 11 minutes of it.

That has been par for the course with Sam this week. I'm sure there are a lot of things adding to this. His glasses are in getting repaired. I really didn't think this was a huge issue if he doesn't have his drop in but it must be bothering him. He is so OFF and he cries at the drop of a hat. He's adjusting to being home from vacation and Daddy being back at work. Other things have me worried. He isn't eating nearly as good as he normally does and he's not sleeping well. The not sleeping well alone is enough to throw his moods off. Regardless of what's getting him I'm tired and worried. If he gets his glasses back and the schedule continues to be normal but he doesn't even out I may bring him to the Doctor for a check.

If these are behavior issues that need a little nip and tuck when then I guess I'm up for a bit of of challenge. Sam is VERY determined and is a natural at trying to get the last word in. It drives me crazy. In fact a very good example of his determination and his mouth happened last week at dinner. We sat at the table for what seemed like all night. When the boys have been warned and dinner has overstayed it's welcome on the table I put a timer on. When the timer goes off dinner is done and the food is gone. (before you think about how mean I am keep in mind this is normally well after the time frame that the whole rest of the family has taken to eat and then some) Anyway Sam looked at me with his grumpy face (that's putting it nicely) said "I'm gonna eat so you don't tell me to eat anymore" I guess if he eats just to spite me I'll take it. Really what I should have done is taken his food away for being so mouthy but like I said I'm worried because he hasn't eaten well.

Last night at the table he again decided it was battle time and this time the battle was chips. Sam wanted chips with dinner. Not a problem except that he needed to eat the first half of his sandwich first. This has always been the deal with chips at dinner and he and Eric know this. He kept insisting he wanted chips and I finally told him that if he asked one more time there would be no chips AT ALL. Sam decided to throw his sandwich across the table and he was promptly escorted to his room and dinner was then done. I have to tell you that when I came back to the table I must have looked as flustered as I felt because Eric in his sweet gentle voice looked right at me and said "this is the best cheese sandwich I've ever had" Bless his heart, he sure knew how to put a smile on his mama's face!

You know in writing about this it really appears that I'm complaining and I'm truly not. I'll take the sandwich throwing and the Wal-Mart screaming. Not every day is like that and there are so many more moments in my days that I probably don't write about. I think sometimes the not so glamorous moments stick out, especially when I put the boys to bed and I feel like I've been ran over by a truck.

I wouldn't trade any of it.

I was telling a friend today how blessed I am to be able to be home with the kids. That even 4 years ago when I first started this venture of being a stay at home mom I never thought I'd be at the point where I could look out in the world and be OK in mine.

Before dinner I put helmets on the boys and we set out for a little bike ride. Well they rode I walked/jogged with them. I had my iPOD in one ear and was listening to a song. I listened to the words and watched Sam and Eric petal with their little legs and the words on the song we're simply "oh praise Him, oh praise Him ..... How infinite and sweet,This love so rescuing, Oh how infinitely sweet, This great love that has redeemed”..... It doesn't take much to forget the Wal-Mart scenes or dinner scenes. I was just in the moment and so grateful for my children.

He tends his flock like a shepherd:
       He gathers the lambs in his arms
       and carries them close to his heart;
       he gently leads those that have young. Isaiah 40:11

I have to mention that moment ended with Sam running over my foot!