A few days ago I was at the zoo with my son’s family. We walked by a grandmother sitting on a bench with two young children. They were eating ice cream and her grandson dropped his on the ground. As she picked it up, she slapped him on his leg and gave it back to him. My heart broke. I am sure the little boy did not throw his ice cream on the ground intentionally. It was an accident, not deserving of a slap on the leg. 

This incident brought me back to my busy days of mothering young children. How many times did I discipline when my children didn’t deserve it? Too many. I know why it happens. Caring for little ones is demanding and emotionally frustrating and exhausting. After a series of emotionally challenging events, it’s that one little thing that causes a parent or grandparent to lose it and take their frustration out on an innocent child.

When I was in the early stages of raising kids, I listened to James Dobson’s radio program, Focus on the Family. I especially remember one episode that was an “ah-ha”  moment for me. He explained that littles ones need discipline when they are defiant and refuse to do what they are told to do. Like when your three-year-old daughter crosses her arms and refuses to pick up her toys, or your two-year-old son touches the stove after you told him not to. Those are acts of defiance that need discipline.

But when it comes to dropping ice cream on the ground, or spilling a glass of milk at the table, or tracking mud into the house, those are the result of childish and immature behavior simply because the child is a child, and they do not deserve discipline.

Raising young children is the toughest job in the world! And the people raising them are far from perfect. I know I spent a lot of time apologizing to my kids when I lost my cool. I also spent a lot of time on my knees. I find I have much more patience with my grandchildren than I did with my children. It’s probably because I am more mature and a little wiser. It’s also because I can let Mom or Dad handle the discipline and I just get lots of hugs!

If you know moms and dad raising little ones, remember to pray for them. And if you ARE a mom or dad raising little ones, remember that the days are long but the years are short. They will be gone before you are ready to let them go.

Here’s to keeping ice cream off the ground!

Crystal