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.

Book Club

I just got back from meeting with a Book Club from church. Since I am ridiculously busy and can't seem to commit to a weekly Bible Study, I signed up for this book club since it meets once a month. I love reading and thought it would be good for me to read random books that someone else picks and then get together with ladies from church for great discussion on what we liked, didn't like, etc.

The book we just finished, Jacob's List by Stephanie Whitson, was tough at times because it deals with parents who lost their 18 year old son in a freak accident. Neither parent is a Christian and it talks about how they deal with their grief, a broken marriage, saved and unsaved friends, and ultimately, how they come through this time. Next we are reading About Jane by ??? Moser which is a bio-novel about Jane Austen. I am sooo looking forward to that one.

Anyway, there were only 4 of us which surprised me since there are so may people that attend Living Hope. But it made for intimate talk and great conversation and enabled me to meet some new ladies and get better acquainted with some I already knew. The coffee was good and it was just a very pleasant couple of hours with women. Something I haven't had in a while and miss terribly.

Camouflage Convention at Wal-Mart!

Just in case you have never lived in Bowling Green, Kentucky but plan to visit someday, heed this warning, DO NOT go to Wal-Mart on a Saturday afternoon. I have lived here long enough to know better and yet I though that just this once it might not be crowded.

Last Saturday, about 2:00pm I headed into town for groceries. Town for me is across the mall parking lot since I live one street over from all the main shopping. I usually do my shopping during a week day because when Mike and the kids are home, I try to BE home as much as possible. It has been a very busy week at the gym with meetings and transitions with my new manager, as well as preparing for the new month, and I just wasn't able to get my shopping done until Saturday. I go to Aldi first and get 90% of what I need and then to Wal-Mart. I guess I didn't get the memo (and why should I?) but there seemed to be a Camouflage Convention at Wally World. In case you didn't know, there ARE different types of camouflage. This wasn't military camouflage but HUNTING camouflage. I have never seen so many men wearing camo. hats and shirts, TOGETHER, in all my life except for one time when Mike took me to Rack's Sporting Goods. It was a Planet Camo!

I don't hate camo. I am married to an ex-marine and have a son that wants to go to a military college. I even bought, on clearance, a cute little camo. windbreaker with some feminine detailing to it. But Wal-Mart last Saturday was where all the hunters wearing camo. decided to congregate and where I found myself, reminding myself, that I am not in California anymore as I cruised the aisles still wearing flip flops in October.