Stepping back

 After a day of Hazzy constantly begging me for the iPad, I decided it was time for me to be more proactive with his play time. To get some inspiration, I turned to Pinterest, as you do. I browsed through blog posts of supermums who manage to set up cool activities for their children, take beautiful photos and post them on their awesome blogs. After diverting to craft projects for awhile (they even find time for that!) I found a great water play idea. It was basically setting up a water tub outside, with plastic containers and cups in soapy water so children can pretend to wash dishes. Apparently, what is a chore for me is great fun for them! So as soon as Hazzy woke up from his nap, I armed him with a dish washing brush and sat him down in front of the water filled tub. But instead of washing the dishes, he decided to scrub the floor. Then the window. And of course, the fence. Although the activity didn't go as planned, he seemed to be enjoying himself immensely.

 The next activity was playing with play dough made out of corn flour and hair conditioner. It was guaranteed to provide hours of fun for my toddler. Hazzy did enjoy squirting the conditioner into the flour to make the dough, but had no interest whatsoever in actually playing with it. I even showed him how to flatten it out and press cookie cutters into it, but he just looked at me as if to say, 'What's the point of that?'.

 Once again, I was reminded of the fact that I am not in control of my children. They are their own little persons and I can't make them into something they are not. But if you think about it, this is a good thing. I mean, the last thing you want to do is make a mini version of yourself. I try my best to teach them what is right and protect them from what is wrong, but in the end it is God who molds and grows them. I need to stop trying to make them do what I want them to do but step back and let them be what they are meant to be. I need to guide, not force. I need to respect, not belittle. I need to love, not resent. I need God's grace.