1m2aSandbox

Sometimes, you go through a hard emotional growth spurt with your kids. You have days when they seem to jump from disobedient act to intentional meanness to flagrant testing with nary a pause in between, and if you’re like me you’re driven to your knees several times a day, begging for patience and wisdom.

I’ve been through a lot of that with Maddie this fall. Even starting in the summer, her ego-centricity was breathtaking. Cutting in front of kids waiting patiently in line – not even noticing the other kids, really. Ripping Cora to shreds with a few careless words about the quality of work in a painting Cora just finished. Fighting vehemently with her sister for a toy she didn’t even really want – she just didn’t want her sister to have it.

I’ve been praying hard for Maddie, knowing that there are some things that are simply Not My Job, and changing my child’s heart is one of them. I’ve tried to be patient, trusting God that His seeds will take root and bloom in that sweet girl’s heart.

And recently, I’ve seen signs of new growth.

Friday night the family had a hurry of clean-up before bedtime. I’d been slacking on it all week since I’d been sick, but Friday night I told the girls everything had to be picked up. “But can’t we leave out a couple games, Mommy?” Maddie asked.

“No, kiddo, tomorrow we’re having people over for dinner and I don’t want to have to clean up the house on my birthday. Fair?” I asked, and Maddie reluctantly nodded.

That night I lay in bed with Cora saying prayers, and I was going through our usual blessings when Cora said, “Oh, I’ve got something to add!” I turned it over to her.

Sunday night Maddie woke up at 3 a.m. with a fever; I loved on her, told her she couldn’t go to school the next day, and sent her back to sleep. She spent all Monday with no fever and just slight stuffiness, but at bedtime the fever showed back up. Sigh.

Home from school again on Tuesday, and I have to tell you, I’m pretty sure this thing is allergies. I’ve taken Cora to the doctor before for exactly the same symptoms – low to moderate fever, sore throat, slight stuffiness – and she guaranteed me it was allergies. Apparently in addition to causing EVERY OTHER SYMPTOM in the book, allergies can also run a low fever. Which, of course, is not contagious.

But without knowing for certain that it’s allergies, Maddie has to stay home until she’s fever-free. Which means I have one very bored kiddo around the house.