So far the love dare for parents has followed along the love dare for couples. Love blooms with rich soil of understanding, patience, kindness, and trust. Love is patient. Love is kind. Today, love is valuable. I am supposed to find a way to show my children how truly valuable they are to me. Something that should be so easy to do. Because they absolutely are more precious than diamonds to me.
The enemy surely knows that I am trying to do what is best for my family. I am truly under his attack.
Between a screaming baby who can not be consoled, a mischievous five year old who is making mess after mess, and a troublesome almost three year old who is testing my patience with the world's worst temper tantrums I want to quit.
I want to scream "Why can't you just stop? Freaking stop making messes." "Seriously, quit throwing things or you are going to get (insert terrible response out of anger)".
The thoughts have crossed my mind more times than I can count. But now, I am aware of them. Now I am choosing how I respond. Choosing what I say instead of blurting out the first thing that pops in my head. Instead of reacting on emotion, I am taking control of my response.
I feel more out of control and perfectly in control than I have ever felt before. I can not describe it. The Love Dare isn't about not feeling emotions like anger, frustration, irritation. It is about finding appropriate ways to handle those emotions so your response does not create more problems or wedges in your relationship.
Sometimes the response you need is just to acknowledge that you are under attack and prepare to win the battle no matter what it takes.
Sometimes the response you need is to hug that person with whom you really want to explode on at this current moment.
Sometimes the response you need is just to cry or vent or scream into a pillow.
Just remember, how ever you handle it take control of your actions.
You are responsible for making life how you want it to be.
The enemy surely knows that I am trying to do what is best for my family. I am truly under his attack.
Between a screaming baby who can not be consoled, a mischievous five year old who is making mess after mess, and a troublesome almost three year old who is testing my patience with the world's worst temper tantrums I want to quit.
I want to scream "Why can't you just stop? Freaking stop making messes." "Seriously, quit throwing things or you are going to get (insert terrible response out of anger)".
The thoughts have crossed my mind more times than I can count. But now, I am aware of them. Now I am choosing how I respond. Choosing what I say instead of blurting out the first thing that pops in my head. Instead of reacting on emotion, I am taking control of my response.
I feel more out of control and perfectly in control than I have ever felt before. I can not describe it. The Love Dare isn't about not feeling emotions like anger, frustration, irritation. It is about finding appropriate ways to handle those emotions so your response does not create more problems or wedges in your relationship.
Sometimes the response you need is just to acknowledge that you are under attack and prepare to win the battle no matter what it takes.
Sometimes the response you need is to hug that person with whom you really want to explode on at this current moment.
Sometimes the response you need is just to cry or vent or scream into a pillow.
Just remember, how ever you handle it take control of your actions.
You are responsible for making life how you want it to be.