I’ve had some great challenges with my 5 year old. Seems I can’t ask her to do anything at all without an instant rebellion in words and actions and I have to admit that I find it so completely discouraging. Where did I go wrong? The three children ahead of her in age are kind, obedient, loving and respectful. This one will pout, tease, stomp, refuse and yell no matter how consistent I am with prompt discipline.

This is one of those times I wish I had a Titus 2 “older woman” who would just be in the home with me, watching. Do I carry a spirit of anger? Frustration? Am I missing her needs somehow? Do our routines frustrate her? Am I not spending enough time with her? Do I miss hugging and kissing her enough? Questions, questions. And the answers are just hidden in some intangible fog.

It’s not that I haven’t asked around. Sometimes the answers are simply pat, with a formula of “just do x and then y will happen.” Sometimes the answers don’t jive with the fruit in their own mothering. All I know is that giving up is not an option, and that when I recognize that spirit of withdrawing myself from her (the “whatever!” one), that is the time to draw her closer.

I wish I had some great pearl of wisdom to share. I suppose that if all I can offer is that yes, it is sometimes very, very hard, that will suffice for the time. Even so, nothing is impossible for God, I have hope, and I will let him do His work in me with patience through this.

Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.