Getting Help from a Higher Source

A mama needs the occasional really, really good moment to help balance out the many hard moments of parenting.

This afternoon John and Mary were playing in the bonus room above the kitchen, where I was working. I heard growing squabbles. John had set up a tent and Mary kept crashing it down. Then John would scream at her in an awful tone of voice and I think he hit her a couple of times. I'd haul myself up the stairs yet again, remind him of the procedures ("ask her to stop in a nice tone of voice, and then come get me for help, but you can't ever hit someone weaker than you"). I'd correct Mary and make her say 'sorry.' I'd re-set the tent. I'd go back to work downstairs.

This happened two or three times and I know it is so hard for John to exercise self-control when Mary is being mean to him, yet she's still a "baby" with excuses, but increasingly not so much of a baby. My oven timer was going off when the latest screams erupted and I had to remove my Magic Bars, so I called up that I'd be right there to help and just please wait for Mama.

I arrived to help a minute later and saw John sitting up on a bookshelf, set apart from Mary, praying (hands folded, saying words). He saw me walk in and said, "I don't need you, Mama." I said, "But I came to help you as soon as I could." He explained matter-of-factly (not upset with me), "I'm praying to God now, so I don't need your help." I tried to hide my glee, I told him that was a very good way to get help, and I excused myself, pausing to hide on the stairs to spy on him (of course!).

First he prayed grace before meals: "Bless us O Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive, through Thy bounty through Christ our Lord, Amen." Then he launched into a petition that I couldn't quite hear clearly, but it was something like, "Please God, help Mary not to crash down my tent and help me to be a nice brother."

So, basically after that, I was walking on Cloud 9 of Catholic Mama Heaven. All my efforts are not for nothing. It doesn't get much better than that.

And there were no more sibling squabbles (in that play session) after that!