I had a little battle with a 16 month old. She wanted some more food and I wouldn't give it to her. She wouldn't open her mouth wide enough for me to shove it in. So she was trying to play games of which I wasn't a willing participant.
Jarah needed to go to the toilet and so I gathered the kids and went. Along the way I mentioned going to pick papa up. Well I think that set jarah off in a big cry fest. He wouldn't go to the toilet and kept trying to shove himself on the ground.
Walking back to the car I had two crying babes under each arm. I set them both on their feet and they cried that way.
Avigail stopped but jarah got worse. So I let his hand go so he could scream it out on his own before getting into the car with me. He's a great kid, barely gives me reason to grrr.. But when he does this I lose all patience. Why? Cos he challenges me in a way that the others do not.
So here I am, unimpressed, tired, and being challenged. I put the others in the car and walked over about half way to where he was. Calling him to come. He didn't budge. I came closer, crouched down and asked what was wrong. I wanted him to meet me half way so I wasn't the only one making the effort in this situation. He told me he didn't want to get in the car. I don't blame him really!
He ended up meeting me halfway. Which seemed different to me seeking him or him seeking me. Like it was more of a compromise than a full submission of both our wills.
Now I don't have theology or a belief behind this 'method' if you can even call it that. It's just what I did at this time, in this situation.
We picked mik up and I drove them through the city to the train station. I let them out and they walked. Then I drove to drop something off at a house for someone then went to meet them at the other end.
I thought about going ahead, waiting for the train, then jumping on the train yelling hello and waving then jumping off again.
Instead I was too late and the train passed. Mik and the kids sawe in the car and I saw mik. We waved. Mik said that jarah proudly said that's our mum 😍
They were very excited about their trip. Isaiah said they couldn't go home yet cos they hadn't been on the train. He truly believes when we say we will do something that we will and holds us to our words. We need to be very careful about what we say will or will not do. Good thing we weren't lying.
I met them at hungry jacks, had lunch and then we left abruptly. Another kid was bullying my kids and trying to get their sibling to bully them too. I don't appreciate people sticking their hands around my kids necks and pulling on their clothing then using words against others. His mum laughed and said play nice. I'm thinking 'not appropriate'. Poor mik had no idea why I was demanding immediate exit.
We went to visit some special friends. One mik has known for a very long time and his wife and their two children. That was very special.
Afterwards we drove back to camp, put 3 asleep kids into bed and Isaiah put himself to bed and so did we. *bliss*
I want to do this kind of thing more. Travel and explore that is.
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