Adventures in mommyhood

I decided to venture ouside the house today. I’m really a homebody; I like to stay home only going out to the market once a week, church on Sunday and the occasional library trip. There are those days when I need to escape from the routine. Today was one of those days.

We need carpet for our new home addition, so it was off to the local department store to make my big (expensive) selection. Of course I had all the kiddos with me and as we pulled into the parking lot, I gave The Speech.

Parents with children under the age of ten are familiar with The Speech. It goes something like this, “I hope you remember how to behave in the store. Please stay with me: no running, no touching everything. This is not a playground, okay?” “Sure, Mom!” comes the reply from the little voices in the backseat.

I fall for it every time.

Now my wonderful children are not monsters. You know those children that run amuck unsupervised, screaming and leaving a trail of destruction. My gang isn’t that bad, but if unchecked, things will rapidly head in that direction. Today I am hopeful The Speech is going to be the magic pill that will turn my children into the mommy-pleasing, demur darlings that I want them to be during this shopping trip.

It’s obivious that’s not going to happen, for as we reach the door, I hear my six-year-old mumble to her younger brothers. “I remember this place, it’s boring.”

That’s because there are no toys to beg mommy to buy, I think to myself.

We make our way to the back of the store and I start flipping through the carpet samples. Within seconds the only one not exploring the hanging rugs on display is the baby, and she is strapped in the infant car seat. I try to regain control. It works for about 30 seconds. Again I demand they sit on floor where I can see them. No such luck.

Now I’m starting to feel like every eye in the store is watching me and my lack of parenting skills. I want to escape, but I need this carpeting and I don’t want to come back later. Plus it’s about time these young ones learn self-control. I give them my best “you-better-behave-or-else” lecture but it still isn’t working. I quickly find a carpet I like and hussle the children to the car.

I wish I could tell you I got the children to behave but that’s not true. There is no magic wand to make your children well behaved in a department store. Or in any situation for that matter.

I can’t force my children to act a certain way; the only one I can control is myself. When my two-year-old runs up and down the isles of the store, it’s how I react to him that I can control. When my five-year-old tells me he is hungry for the tenth time, how I respond is my responsiblity. When my daughter complains of boredom, what should I do?

If I want my children to learn self-control, I must practice it in my responses to them. Only then will they learn how to glorify the Lord not only in their words and deeds, but in their reacions as well.