Being the "Bad" Mom, Standing my Ground, MIsunderstood, or All of the Above

Have you ever felt like a punching bag? I mean, have you ever had one of those days that FELT like you had to do battle on several fronts? By battle, I mean knowing that you are the unpopular opinion, the wet blanket, the bubble burster, the enforcer with your kids? I know that some of you reading this don't have kids or have them yet, but I am sure you can relate to the fact that you have to confront and issue, make a stand, enforce a standard, and all the while, although you are doing what must be done for the greater good, feel like you're thought of as the enemy, the bad guy (gal), the wet blanket.

I had a day like that yesterday where it seemed with each one of my children there was a confrontation, battle of the wills, enforcement of a standard, or worse...enforcing the restriction that was earned! When the kids went to bed last night, I sighed and told Mike that I felt like a human punching bag! I felt beat up emotionally and was exhausted. James Dobson titled his book correctly, "Parenting Isn't for Cowards."

Mike reminds me and I remind myself, that there is no way they can even begin to understand our role as their parents and because they are still kids and lack life experience, they can't see that any way other than their way is right. Sometimes ungrateful, self focused, discontent, they see us as the ones who are keeping them from all the fun in the world and we don't work hard enough or make enough money to give them all the things they THINK will make them happy. OY!

I wonder if God feels any different? I know that within the last year I have been all those things and felt all those things towards my heavenly Father. Do you think HE ever feels like a DIVINE punching bag? He teaches me so many lessons about myself as I parent two teenagers and a pre-teen. But He teaches me so much more about what a good parent is as He parents me. Sometimes to be a good parent is to be the bad mom, stand my ground, misunderstood, and yes, the punching bag. I know my "thoughts are good" toward my children just as His "thoughts towards" me are the best. Jeremiah 29:11.