Mother of the Year...

Well...

No one has been nominated for 'Mother of the Year' around here lately.

"Ain't that the truth."

Last week we were running late so the kids missed the bus. 

I was pretty frustrated and took my frustrations out on the middle child. 

He's one of those kids that craves routine and order. When things aren't that way he gets very...

...well, bratty really. 

So, being late in the morning is a big deal to him.

Part of me wants to cater to that and part of me wants him to suck it up. It's a work in progress.

He had been incredibly grumpy all morning.

I was kind of done with his grumpiness.

As we walked out the door he realized he didn't have his jacket on so I ran back in to grab it for him.

 Except, I didn't grab his jacket I grabbed his brothers on accident so when he tried to put it on it was too big.

Barely too big, though. Just wear it kid!

He immediately stopped and said "I can't wear this."

At this point the right thing to do would have been to either say:

"Today, if you want a jacket that is what you will wear"

or

"Go back in and get your jacket."

Instead...

Oh, kids it was bad.

So, bad.

Instead, I lost my temper and said:

"Well, Prince Henry I guess we are just going to be late to school then!"

Nice.

And it wasn't an under my breath, muttering kind of thing.

It was loud and very sarcastic and I think my neighbor who was puttering in the yard heard it.

It was just mean.

Good Gravy, woman, why?

WHY?

Why would I say this to my child?

This child:

The thing is I wasn't even mad at him.

I was really mad at me.

I lingered over my Shakeology too long, I checked Facebook before I got the boys up, I didn't have my alarm set, I blah, blah, blah...

When I got in the car he beat me to the apology.

Which is big because even though he has a big heart in many ways he really doesn't like to apologize.

All I could say was:

"Henry, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. Mom needs Jesus just like you do."

And it's true!

There is nothing wrong with apologizing to your kid when you've screwed up.

I just hope he remembers more of these moments:

Than these:

 I don't know though...

I mean, maybe losing it once in awhile and then going through the "I'm sorry, please forgive me" cycle every now and then isn't a bad thing for them to see.

This family does need Jesus.

And a better alarm clock.

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This is the last day to enter the 'make up a caption for the crazy picture' contest on the AKA Jane Random Facebook page. We've gotten some great suggestions. And thanks to my friend Brigiete we've learned a little Greek mythology. 

So, like the page and enter the contest for a chance at a $5 Starbucks gift card.