Ryder has been cracking us up lately with the things he's been saying...he sounds so grown up and though he's grown taller in the past few months, he's still 3! When the following things come out of the mouth of our 3 year old, John and I usually try and keep from laughing out loud by just flashing each other a look that says..."Did you just hear that!"
Shall we?
John and I aren't sure where this came from, but when he wants to ask us to play something or has an idea for us all to do, he'll say...
"Mom, shall we go for a bike ride? or "Dad, shall we go play outside a little bit?
I know Mom, I know...
If I help Ry do something these days or instruct him in anyway, I usually hear..."
"I know, Mom...I know, I know, I know..." even if he just approached me with the question! Oh boy...
A little clearly...
with an excited expression (eye brows raised, eyes wide and excited 'motherly' voice)
"Mom! Cole said _____ a little clearly! He's learning to talk real now! Good job Coley! (with a pat on Cole's back and head tilted to the side in a proud big brother way)
Helping Mom...
I was outside on the driveway, feeding Cora her rice cereal in the stroller while the boys rode bikes on the driveway and sidewalk between our house and our neighbor's house. Cora waved her hand into my little bowl of cereal and it went flying all over me! Not wanting to leave the little ones to go inside to get a wipe I asked...
"Ryder? Could you grab a wipe for me real quick...I have cereal all over me!"
"Not now, mom, I'm riding." he responded without looking at me...he's just learned to ride his bike without training wheels and didn't want to stop poppin' wheelies (really!) to help me...I get it, but I still needed help!
"Ry, they're just inside the door, it'll only take a quick second, then you can come right back out to keep riding."
"No, Mom...I won't!" he said with emphasis this time...now to be fair, he helps me ALL the time with a skip in his step, so that's what made this time funny to me since what you are about to read is NOT his typical response, even though he's being borderline disrespectful...you'll see!
"Ryder, Mommy asked you to stop what you're doing to help. If you don't obey now, we'll have to stop and go inside."
"Stop talking, Mom. I'll only help if you stop talking," and he dropped his bike in frustration.
"Ryder, you don't talk to Mommy, that way...you NEVER tell Mommy or Daddy to stop talking. We're in charge, got it?"
"Okay, Mom. Fine, I'll help"...and stomped to the door.
"Thank- you, I'll hold your bike right here for when you get back. Thank you. I appreciate it!"
It was quiet for a bit and I didn't hear the door opening...
"Ry? You okay?"
"I'm not going to get the wipes mom...you're stressing me out!"
"Ryder, we're a family, we help each other. I help you when you need help and I need you to help me sometimes too."
"Okay, Mom"...with a deep sigh of submission.
He came back out a second later (they really were right inside the door...) and opened the case and they all fell out on to garage floor.
"Oh no! They're going to get dirty!...he cried.
"No, they're fine, sweet-stuff. Thank you for helping me. Give me a kiss, I love you. (kiss) Now you need to say sorry to Mommy for not obeying right away and being disrespectful.
"Sorry, Mom. I'll do better next time. Now can I show you how I ride over the grass with no training wheels?"
"Yes...show me!"...and off he rode as I wiped (now dried) rice cereal off my shorts!
I'm not trying to use this a model for parenting or anything...I just wanted to share an uncharacteristicly funny Ryder moment with you! If I've learned anything from being a mother for almost 4 years, it's that as soon as you think you got something good going, they grow up and everything changes! Back to the drawing board! John and I have learned that as much as advice from others and books are helpful, and can give you good ideas to try...prayer is the most important tool in parenting. Going to the One who made them and knows our children better than even their parents is the most effective "tool" in understanding how to "train them up" in the way they should go.
Having a "strong-willed" child can sure be humbling...especially when both of us are used to managing classrooms of children! There's nothing like a 3 year old refusing to get off his bike to help remind us that it's only by our submission to Christ as and His grace that we will know how to raise our kids through each new phase they go through.
Lord, may you give me the the wisdom and patience to train my little ones up well...and may you draw me to my knees when my tendency is to rely on my own strength knowledge and experience with other people's kids to raise my own. There's only one Ryder, Cole and Cora in the world...give us what we need for this stage of the journey in parenting your precious ones that you've entrusted to our care. What a responsibility and honor! Through the mountains and valleys, we give you praise because we know more of you in the end...
ok, hilarious, I was laughing out loud to myself!! Thank you for that today! Love Kirstin