Behold your little ones

Our Eli so stinkin' smart. He is learning how to negotiate and verbalize his feelings, which I'm not complaining about, but in some ways it's getting harder to know how to discipline him effectively. 

 Here's a few examples of what I mean:

Me: Eli, please listen.

Eli: No, Mom... you need to "wissen". Time out mom.

or

Me: Eli, please clean up your toys it's time to...

Eli: Mom, ____more minutes. 

or

Nursery teacher to Craig: What do you want us to do when Eli starts hitting other kids over toys?

or

Me: Climb into your carseat, bud.

Eli: No thanks. I'll drive.

or.

Me peeping through the window on Sunday: I see 6 kids sitting and singing with the teacher in a nice circle. Where's Eli? Running circles around them.

or

Me: It's time for a nap. Please lay down.

Eli: Okay mom. BYE!

Me: Nuh-night bud. 

He usually sings and talks himself to sleep. This particular afternoon, he decided to jump on his bed and got a HUGE shiner as a result:

Don't get me wrong, I know these are examples that are pretty typical of a 2 year old boy. A lot of times I have to do all that I can to suppress laughter so that I'm not reenforcing behavior. But then there are days that are really, really tough. Days where I'm counting down until naptime or bedtime, and moments when I'm so frustrated it takes everything in me to keep my voice volume at "loud and firm" instead of a "scream." At times it's hard  for me to stay patient and understand that he is on a HUGE learning curve right now.

I remember that I was having an especially hard week a couple of months ago at church when we read this passage of scripture found 3 Nephi 17:21-23 when Christ is visiting the Nephites in the Americas:

"21...and he took their little children, one by one, and ^bblessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them.

 22 And when he had done this he wept again;

 23 And he spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones."

After reading these verses we talked about seeing our children for what they can become, and seeing their true potential as sons and daughters of God.  

Since then, I have had so many little moments where I feel like I really, truly see my kids. Little things that they do show me what they someday will become. I truly Behold them. Moments when I feel under-qualified, humbled and honored to have the opportunity to raise them. Often these moments come at the most unexpected times.

Me: I love you Eli.

Eli: Oh mommy, I love you SO MUCH.

or

Seeing Eli comfort Owen when he cries

 or

Without prompting, I hear the dishwasher open after breakfast or lunch, a plate being dropped into a random place inside, then the door of the dishwasher closes because Eli understands where the dishes go when he's done eating.

or

Overhearing him play with his cars (in his deep play voice):

or

Seeing him trying to microwave toys because he wants to imitate what he sees us doing

or seeing him play in the snow for the first time(last year he refused and hated it):

and my favorite:
Hearing him sing any song... but mostly I am a Child of God. "Weed(lead) me, guide me, walk beside me, help me find the wayyyyyyy...."