Every morning Chey and I watch Spongebob before school, and recently I have found myself quoting this happy little yellow sponge and his friends in Bikini Bottom. Who knew?
- Have fun everyday.
- Work is fun and good.
- Be nice to everyone.
- Be a good friend.
- Never give up.
Yesterday I walked in the front door and was greeted with a frantic seven year old running up to me, trying so hard to get her story out that she was babbling. "Mimi, we didn't go to the book fair until the afternoon, and I forgot Mimi. Mrs. Evans was helping me and I forgot Mimi. I looked at the books and I just forgot, Mimi." Ok...at this point I had already figured out what had happened, but I wasn't going to make it easy on her.
Flashback twenty four hours. Sitting at the kitchen table Chey and I perused a flyer for the school book fair. To put things in perspective, Chey's main goal in life is to be famous. She has a serious type A personality, so we don't put anything past her. She is also a very good reader; reading above her grade level so we don't have to work to get her to pick up a book. However, she tends to be hyper focused and has to be forced to expand her horizons. Currently, her obsession is Justin Beiber. With this as a backdrop I told her that she could choose a chapter book, picture books, and anything else the librarian deemed appropriate (no "Monster High"), but she was not to spend $9.99 on a picture book about Justin Beiber.
Back to the present. She continued to plead her case without really telling me what had happened. I just wanted to get on with my evening: change into my jammies and eat dinner, so I stopped the hemorrhage of words and confronted her with the reality, "You chose the Justin Beiber book didn't you?" "No, I just forgot." Sobbing ensued.
Thus, we arrive at the wisdom of Spongebob: "Admit your mistakes."
Learning to admit and accept making mistakes and failing to live up to the high calling is not easy but it is vital. There is a reason she reacts this way. Before moving in with us she got in serious trouble for every little misstep - including those normal kid things that should not be the end of the world. The road back is a difficult one. We try to teach her that mistakes are a part of life with the facts that there are natural consequences of her choices and we love her no matter what she chooses to do. It is hard when those beautiful blue, tear filled eyes are pleading with me for reassurance that she is still loved.
Haven't we all felt this desperate need for reassurance? I know I have. Sometimes I find myself going to the wrong places for reassurance. I still fall in the popularity trap. I always wanted to be a part of the "in" crowd and with the advent of social media like Facebook and Twitter there is now another way to feel "in" or "out." I find myself checking my friend list and my Twitter followers to see if someone else has decided that I am witty enough or interesting enough to "friend" or "follow." It is exhausting and futile.
Then I hear a little voice whispering to me (no, this time it is not Spongebob) reminding me that I was knit together in my mother's womb and that I am loved by my Father and saved by His Son. How much more special can a person be? All of that done for me? Blessed Assurance.
Hugs,
Sheryl
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