Have Patience

There are many things I am not. I am however, patient. Very patient. I’m convinced when God was making me, he had my little Kraken in mind and added an extra splash of patience powder. He knew I would need it.

This morning the kids woke up way too early for the second morning in a row. Momma hadn’t slept very well, and The Kraken was very whiney. Nothing could remedy the mood of my son. Not even the television. Nothing. Not even storytime at the library. Not a cookie or a book or a random weather check by running out the front door. It was a rough morning.

After lunch I made the executive decision that all three of us needed a nap. The Siren agreed and went down as easily as ever. I think she enjoys naptime as it is the only time The Kraken can’t steal her toys. The crib is her sanctuary. She was asleep in minutes. The Kraken however, is never excited about rest period. The best way to get The Kraken to sleep is to wrap him up like a mummy and hold him down. (No, not really but if you can get that child to stop moving he nods off midsentence.) That sounds a bit like torture to me, so I was relying on hope; hope that he would sit still long enough to crash.

He was relying on stubbornness. He wasn’t going to stop moving and he wasn’t going to stop yelling at Momma to go potty, to have some milk, to read a story, to tuck him in . . . Who was going to break first?

Turns out it was me. I didn’t let him out, but I did lose my patience and snap at the poor child. “I am NOT coming in here again. We will do NOTHING fun until you take a nap.” I didn’t hear another peep out him, but I also couldn’t enjoy the quiet because I felt so horrible.

Two hours later my sweet cherub awoke and gave a big hug. I said, “I’m sorry I snapped at you. Momma should not have been so mean to you.” He replied, “That’s ok momma. I’m sorry I wasn’t behaving. No obey my momma. That’s no nice. We all need a good good nap.”

Then he sang the “Have Patience” song and stole his sister’s pacifier. Here we go again.