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10.25.2010

It's a Massacre!


Oh wait...no...it's just my children's weird aversion to beds, especially their own.  I'm not really sure why our kids have beds, or even rooms for that matter.  Micaiah hasn't slept in his room for months.  They prefer to sleep on the hard floor with a couple of blankets and a mound of pillows. They can be found separated as shown, or piled up on top of each other like a bunch of puppies.
Now this is one of those things that may seem like no big deal, or maybe even cute, but it really irritates me.
I want them to sleep in their own beds, and in their own room.
That is why they have them *duh*.

But at this point it's just one of those battles I choose not to fight.  I choose not to fight because no one is being harmed (though you wouldn't think it would be very comfortable), no grave sin is being committed, and because I'm too lazy to fight it (this eliminates multiple trips to put them back to bed).

Right now I choose to fight the battles against bad attitudes, sibling violence, lying and other various issues of morality.  But after this the lines get a little blurry.  Do I fight for a clean room, a lower noise level, an empty plate, or a nice appearance in public?  Are these things necessary for good character development, or do I want them done so that I will look good in front of other people?  I find that anyone that has been a parent for any number of years (myself included) likes to throw this phrase around.  "You have to choose your battles."  But how do we know which battles are to be fought and which we can let go?  Which are important, and which ones just make us feel better?  It's a great  phrase to make yourself appear as if you know what you are doing as a parent, but most days... I don't really have a clue.  And the longer I am a parent, the less I know what I'm doing.

So here is my questions for all you wise parents out there:

What are 3 battles that you choose to fight, and what are 3 that you could fight, but have chosen to let go of?

Without thinking real hard about it, mine are as follows:

1.  I don't fight sleeping in their own beds, but I do fight a decent bed time.
2.  I don't fight a matching clothes, but I do fight a modest ones.
3.  I don't fight a clean plates, but a do fight trying everything on your plate more than once.
I might be fighting the right battles, I might be fighting the wrong battles, but at least I'm fighting.  So that in the end I might say "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7)

9 comments:

Matt said...

Well, with my YEARS of wisdom and knowledge in this area, and with the help of Dr. Randy Carlson.


I got nothing. You always appear to be doing an excellent job.

I am just required (by my own law I just made up) to comment on every post you make. It makes it seem like I am seeing you guys more often than I really am...

Jeni said...

Well thank you Matt, comments are always appreciated. You can just get back with me in 5-7 years, when you have 5-7 children.

sarah sung said...

Um..... I'm assuming my parents never fought this one with me because I (up until earlier this year) have always chosen to sleep in different parts of the house.

Sometimes in my bed, on the floor of my room, the living room, the couch, the guest room, my workspace.... even in my car. (Anywhere on the floor is by far my favorite.)

And.... I have yet to do this, but it's on my list... I want to sleep outside in the bed of a truck. And also sleep out in my backyard (in a tent).

:)

+s

Matt said...

We DID break 4 ribbons... supposedly that means something. *shrug*

Susi said...

Hello Jeni,
I'm Susana, I saw you blog in the Heart of the Matter, and I was reading your blog.
Thank you so much for your comments, they are very helpful. I have 2 children 5 and 2 years old girls. And is encouraging to remember that we are running the race and we are doing our best with the help of our LORD." (2 Timothy 4:7)
Thanks for your words.
Susana


p.d I'm sorry for my bad english,I'm still working in it.

Susi said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Jeni said...

Susana-
Thanks for stopping by and encouraging me with your comment! I think your English is wonderful. Enjoy those girls!

Gina said...

I am definitely not commenting because I'm a WISE parent. We had one of those days this week when my husband walked into the door, took one look, and said "you had a rough day." I didn't know it was so obvious - but yes, we had a BAD day.

But reading your post made me think that maybe I should be thinking more about what battles I'm fighting. Our table manners have been absolutely horrible. But maybe I just need to drop it - so we can enjoy a little peace from mom nagging and focus on some other areas.

I need to think on this one some more.
Gina

Nature Notes from Nadvornia said...

I'm thinking about buying a captain's whistle and going VonTrapp on my kids...