Obey.

It's amazing to watch Norah grow up into a little girl. I still call her my baby, but she really isn't a baby anymore. I know I'm her mom, but man do I really love her. I'm trying to embrace our moments together as just us before the twins arrive. 

Norah's second birthday is approaching (and what fun is party planning!), but along with toddlerhood also comes acting like a toddler, which isn't always roses. (I just typed that without thinking about the analogy of a roses and thorns, but how fitting.)

For the most part, Norah is a very good kid and a pretty good listener. Of course, she has her moments of throwing huge fits when she doesn't get what she wants, but that's every child because we are all sinners. No amount of patience and perfectly worded, developmentally appropriate discipline will erase the problem of sin, but what an opportunity we have as parents to teach them young. Proverbs 22:6 talks about training children in the way they should go, and when they are old they won't turn from it. 

I was a preschool teacher and had many child development classes in college- children are so impressionable in their young years. They are crucial. That doesn't mean you can't change later if you had a rough childhood, but I am very thankful for the opportunity and blessing to raise Norah, along with Kley. 

I don't remember a specific time where I decided I was going to talk about obeying more since she was getting older, but Norah definitely picked up on it quickly! She now says the word, "Obey" often, and frequently she remembers and says it when she is not obeying. We aren't perfect parents, but we are trying to instill teaching about Jesus into our daily interactions with Norah through reading Bible stories, praying together, saying short Bible verses together, and telling her how much Jesus loves her (even more than we do) and what He did for her.

Whatever age your child is, there is no better time to start than now. Kley is a huge part in this too, but since I stay home, a lot more falls onto me during the day when he isn't here. I want to be intentional in my discipline. I don't want to speak out of frustration. I want to remember that tantrums are normal and an opportunity to teach, not her personally rebelling against me to make me upset. I want to teach Norah that I will forgive her when she makes mistakes and that I will never stop loving her, just like Jesus will. 

One of the things that frustrated me most about being a preschool teacher was having to do/say everything over and over again, specifically with sharing and being kind to others. It was extremely convicting for me every time, because it reminded me of how many times Jesus has forgiven me for the same thing. While adults have managed to learn how to not outwardly slap people or grab their stuff every time they get mad, that doesn't mean our hearts have changed inwardly. 

I want to model Gospel centered discipline to Norah because the most important thing I want her to learn about is the love He has lavished on us, and that reality should definitely impact the way we live and treat others.

Norah, I love you and I'm glad we can learn about obeying together.