edited: The Title to this post was changed from "And God Made Me A Parent, Why?" because after reading Robert from Thought of a Father's comment, I have gained insight into why I was given such an important job.
This week has not been a good one for J Boy...he even got lost....but that's a story for another day....when I can catch my breath.
It started out like any normal week...he woke up, his nose was still running, his diaper leaked so his pj's were wet, J Girl was yelling at him to wake up, and he couldn't find his bink...and it was only Monday.
So Tuesday rolls around, and I pick the kids up from the sitters (who is their Godmother's Mother...did you get that my Cousin's Uncle's Girlfriend's Brother's Wife?). It was just like any other day, but on this day in question, the sitter informed me that for the last two days, J Boy has taken his nap without his bink...and that he doesn't use one at her house anymore. On one hand, I was happy...no more searching for a bink all blurry-eyed in the middle of the night as he yells "Ma Bink!" and one step closer to baby freedom.
But I should have known that the Gods were just teasing me...they were up there high in the sky looking down saying, "Not so fast, little lady" (what's strange is that I picture them saying this in a cowboy accent). As soon as we walked in the door to our house, he started....bink, bink, bink, bink, bink, bink, bink, bink, bink, bink, MA BINK! I tried to hold him off, and it worked. He ate dinner (he keeps his bink on his plate) without it, he played after dinner without it, he took his bath (he has it in the tub too) without it....and finally I put his pj's on, and then he started....bink, bink, bink, bink, bink, bink, MA BINK! I just didn't have the heart to do it....I gave in....I handed him his bink....and he was happy. It was like the bink was a lollipop...he sucked on it, licked it, talked to it, and just tossed it around in his mouth and treated it like it was an old school buddy he hadn't seen in like forever.
I thought he was over our little "let's try to take the bink away episode because there is nothing like traumatizing your child for no reason" , but apparently he was not.
This morning, as I was getting him dressed, he sang me a little song that he must have made up in memory of getting his bink back. It goes something like this (in B flat, harmonica please), "Binka Binka Binka Binky" and the next refrain, "Binka Binka Binka Binky". And the chorus, "Binka Binka Binka Binky). It was so catchy that even J Girl and I were singing it. And J Boy was laughing, with the bink dangling from his mouth, dangerously close to falling out, but he always knows when to suck it back in.
What a compliment. Thank you. I went back and found the scripture reference in case you wanted to see it. Psalm 127:3 says, "Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward." I know we've been given the task of raising them, but it's amazing how much Lily teaches me. Especially things about myself, some of which are not so wonderful...namely my selfishness. It amazes me how God uses our children to mold and shape us and to draw us closer to Him.
Posted by: Robert | 03 March 2008 at 01:15 PM
Slow day at work today? 4 posts?? Ha ha. Anyhow, sounds like you have quite the battle. As to why did God make you a parent? I'm sure you'd be the first to agree what a blessing kids are. Scripture even says that. Sure, they drive you nuts, but a blessing nonetheless. You make me glad we never got Lily started on a binky! Little good that does you, I know. Thanks for a great story.
Posted by: Robert | 29 February 2008 at 06:18 PM