Sometimes when I see kids screaming in public I feel bad for the parent, sometimes I think 'did you not know this was going to happen when you brought them here?', and sometimes I feel really bad for the kid.
Last year I would have looked at that child screaming and said, "I could wait another 5 years to have a little bundle of (joy) like you." This year I don't mind it so much. Maybe it is just the mere fact that I am getting older is making me more sympathetic, or it has fried my brains.
However, I know that I am not that sympathetic, while I do not cringe anymore at the thought of a child loosing it's mind while out in public, I do laugh a little (maybe because I know I am not the one dealing with it). I imagine people looking at me like I once did (sometimes still do) when my kid someday begins the assault in public. I also think, what will I do: subject every one's ears to the sound of my child's scream or take them out of the public eye.
I do want kids, could happen anytime I suppose. My husband would like to have many kids, maybe like an orphanage someday. I told him there were no more orphanages in the USA, but now, I am not really sure. I asked him who was going to take care of them. He laughed and said "You?" No way!
As I think of children, I think about my nephews, who I am missing a lot right now. This is to you little guys!
2 comments:
I suppose you would expect me to contribute a comment in this post of all others. Since I have two little girls (3 and almost 1), I find myself wanting help with the understanding of the sinful childish heart. Not that you asked for this advise by any means, but you have no kids and want them, eventually right? Well here goes.
I was reading one of my many parenting books called "Don't Make Me Count to Three!" by Ginger Plowman. This woman has wonderful biblical insight on how children's actions flow from their sinful hearts. She was telling a story about her daughter and prefaced with this on the previous page:
"In order to understand the sin nature (of your child) we must understand these three truths: 1.Your child is born sinful (Romans 3:23)
2. Sin is bound in the heart of your child (Proverbs 22:15)
3. Sin is NOT a laughing matter. Let's face it: Sometimes it is hard not to laugh at our children when they are blatantly sinning. However, Christians should not laugh at or make light of the things that God sent His Son to die for. Sin is not a laughing matter.
She proceeds to tell the story of her daughter Alex and "Doug".
When my daughter Alex was three years old, she knew she was not allowed to get into my make-up bag. It was dinnertime and out family was sitting at the table eating when Mickey, our little Yorky dog, came prancing into the kitchen with lipstick on. It was quite a humorous sight. Assuming the obvious, we all looked over at Alex, who began to hum innocently and act as though nothing was out of the ordinary. To say that my son, Wesley, started laughing would be an understatement. He completely lost it.
After being questioned about how Mickey came to have "Rosewood" lips, Alex looked us in the eyes and with a straight and overly serious face she replied "Doug did it." My husband and I glanced at each other trying to assess the new information. When it was obvious that neither of us knew anyone, friends or family, by the name of Doug, we turned back to Alex and asked, "Who's Doug? "She climbed down from the table and disappeared for a few minutes and then returned with Doug. Doug turned out to be a four-inch-tall action figure...I asked "Alex, did you go get Mama's lipstick...and help Doug put it on Mickey?" "Oh, no ma'am,"..."I didn't get your lipstick because I'm not supposed to get your lipstick because that would be disobeying. I was in my room and Doug went in your room and got it aaaallll by himself and put it on Mickey."
With all this to say, I can understand why you would laugh or maybe even feel sorry for the kid disobeying in public. But remember that children are sinful from birth, and sin is no laughing matter. Our God died for that sin.
I guess by screaming children that I feel sorry for , I really meant little babies (under 1) that are so tired or hungry that they shouldn't be out in public. I never feel sorry for the kid who is screaming becuase they are being rebellious, no matter how old they are.
I'm glad you read parenting books, I really belevie that parenting is one of the greatest responsibilities we were given when God said to populate the earth. There is so much wrapped into that Loving God and loving people. Thanks Sarah!
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