The Stroller: My Prideful Parenting Fail
I have five children. FIVE. For some people that’s a drop in the bucket. For this only child who is very much characterized by being the only child, my house is a zoo to me sometimes. My life now is in stark contrast to a childhood filled with quiet time lost in my own thoughts. I filled notebook after notebook with poorly written, angsty teenage poetry and song lyrics, and I watched reality television being born and quickly embraced by the world. I attempted to learn and perform every Mariah Carey song I knew. And I did all this (and more) at my leisure without interruption, without dealing with someone else’s needs or preferences, and with QUIET.
Today I woke up at 4:30 in the morning for some time alone in God’s Word. Before children I had not even confirmed such a time of day existed. Now I am setting my alarm for it! God had plans for me, though. He made me completely fit for the task of large family living.
I’m not one of those messy, always late only children. Nope. I’m one of those very organized and particular types. Sure, it doesn’t make me likely to jump into anything impulsively, but it does make me good at keeping our house from falling down. Everyone eats, has clothes, and gets educated. We even have family traditions I thoughtfully created that the children enjoy and have come to expect every year for holidays and birthdays. I can feel secure in the knowledge that my children are well cared for and loved. But I’m not perfect by any standard. Sometimes my husband and I have a miscommunication or overlook something important. Usually, our mistakes don’t amount to much of anything. Usually.
Prideful Parenting Led To A False Sense Of Security
After my second baby, every subsequent baby was not much of an event. What I mean is that those sweet little bundles of joy were easy to add to our family. It didn’t feel like we needed to transition. They were part of us from the moment the line showed on my pregnancy tests. (Yes, more than one test. Maybe more than 3…) Baby five was a breeze. My husband took a whole week off work, and it was an especially long week because I went into labor on a Friday night. He had nine whole days with us!
I delivered at a birth center in the middle of the night, and I was home around 10:00 in the morning. A couple of days later we were out and about doing things as a family. We were pros. One of the first places we went to was a local children’s museum.
Our new baby nursed and slept while the others ran around and played with their dad. I can’t express how hard we were rocking as parents. I even thought, “I bet some of the moms here are impressed by what a great job we’re doing.” Yes, I really did think this. Man, was I setting myself up! Looking back, I’m blaming my attitude of superiority on the post-partum hormones. I can’t confirm they’re to blame, but it certainly makes me feel better.
Prideful Parenting Led To An Elevator Whoopsie
This museum has three levels. We hopped on the elevator to move on to the second level. My husband was pushing the stroller, and I was wrangling the others. The doors to the elevator opened, and the kids rushed out. I followed behind them while my husband pushed the stroller. I saw my husband walk past me and smile. He walked past me…alone! I asked with alarm, “Babe, where’s the stroller?” Then, in a respectfully blaming tone I continued, “YOU were pushing the stroller!”
We turned around to look at the elevator which was only about fifteen feet away. A hero stood there with a panicked look upon her face. This good Samaritan was waving one arm in the doorway to keep the elevator doors from closing. Her other arm was holding onto the stroller and pulling it toward the doors.
I am forever thankful to this woman for having the wherewithal to stop the elevator. She averted a frightening moment for us. Of course, we walked ran to the elevator to collect our fifth child. Not to let on that I was embarrassed I said, “He’s new…” You know, like, doesn’t everybody forget they just had a baby and leave them in elevators in public places? I’m not positive, but I doubt she was impressed by what a great job we were doing.
Why Share This Prideful Parenting Anecdote?
Well, for one thing, it cracks me up. We are such an organized family and really do have our act together. We were so confident in ourselves that we were taking our days old baby and four other children to a museum. Pride comes before the fall, eh?
The other reason I share this story is to acknowledge that all of us have fails in our parenting. It doesn’t matter if you have one child or fifteen. You’re going to have a moment when you completely biff it. You’ll lose your temper. You’ll lose your kid’s permission slip. Maybe you’ll lose your baby. (Though, I hope not.)
Final Thought
Keep in mind how human we all are as you walk through life. Offer grace to those moms and dads you see who are struggling or not exactly having a moment of excellence. Be more like the heroic elevator woman and help if you can. Encourage those parents with kind words or even a smile. Try not to sigh loudly and roll your eyes. I know it’s hard, but fight the temptation.
Finally, don’t forget to extend that grace and understanding to yourself. Lean on the Lord through the hard times, and trust that He will guide you through it. That parenting struggle is real, and He can encourage and comfort through it all. Just be willing to accept it. Maybe keep a closer eye on your stroller, too. Just sayin’.
Do you have a prideful parenting fail? Share it with us!
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