by Laura Kuester
12-30-03
I thought the transition from crib to bed was supposed to be an easy one. After
all it was for my first born. Aren't siblings supposed to follow in each others
footsteps. I mean they are from the same gene pool, right? I have discovered
this to be untrue. God had a lesson for me to learn and He choose my young
daughter to be the vessel. (once again!!)
We have some good nights and some bad nights when it comes to "staying in the
big girl bed". In fact we went a couple of weeks with out her getting up hardly
at all. BUT, we seem to be in one of those bad weeks. The first few times she
got up we lovingly held her and told her to stay in her bed. That didn't work so
then we tried to bribe her with candy. This worked a few times. It started with,
"Now, if you stay in your bed I will give you a special treat tomorrow," then it
went to, "If you stay in your bed I will take you to Walgreens and let you pick
out your own special treat." Like I said, this worked a few times and then it
flopped. Then we resorted to the spanking spoon. "If you get out of your bed you
will get a spanking." This never worked! She really didn't care if she was
getting a spanking or not. In fact, I would lay the spoon down in front of her
door in hopes that it would be a reminder of what is to come and she would RUN
back to her bed when she saw it. Instead she picked it up, brought it to me and
turned around ready to take her punishment. We have even tried prayer with her.
"Dear God, please help Olivia to obey mommy and daddy and stay in her bed." To
no avail!!!
Well, recently we decided to quit the fight and just put her to bed in her pack
and play. (playpen) We give her one chance and if she gets up it is straight to
the "nappy bed" as we call it. Enter problem number two. She calls for us,
"Mommy, Daddy, Mommy, Daddy" until one of us goes in there. We hear every excuse
in the book, I need a drink, cover me up, I need my baby, lay down with me, etc.
etc.. One night after I lost track of the amount of times that she had called me
and I went it to her room I decided that she was just going to have to keep on
calling me. Over and over and over again, until I could feel my alter ego taking
over. I stood up with a rush of adrenaline and my jaw clenched, stomped to her
room, pounded open the door and very loudly and firmly said, "WHAT?" This was
the moment my heavenly father revealed a picture of love to me that I will never
forget.
As I stood at the foot of the "nappy bed" ready to grab her up and spank her she
very quietly and gently said, "Mommy, will you sing me Jesus Loves Me? I don't
have to tell you that it is very difficult to sing Jesus Loves Me in a mean and
gruff voice and without a hint of love in your heart. As I began to sing
(hesitantly, I might add) God revealed to me a few things about my dear child.
She knows where to go to when she has a need, she knows where she feels safe,
she knew what words would bring her peace, and she knew to call out "once again"
for help.
Whoa! As I finished the song I laid her down and held tightly to her hand and
God whispered to my spirit ever so sweetly and gently, "This is how you should
be to me my dear child. Don't go to anyone else until you bring your fears and
needs to me. Don't hesitate to ask for help over and over again I love you. You
can rest peacefully in the shelter of my love. You can trust me to always be
here for you when you crawl into my arms. I am the Only One who can give you
what you need.
Needless to say, Olivia and I both rested well that night.