The Mimicers-Children

Children
The "mimicers"
My children come with a whirl wind of emotions. I find the emotional drain of argueing far more taunting then the physical demands of babies and toddlers.
Running the set of the olders is an emotional demand of convincing them to do what they don't want to do, on a constant basis!
 It's do your chores, do your school work, do your room, your laundry and every other thing they should be doing. That's when you get the answer of "awe" but not in a sweet way "awe". It's the whiny "awen" it needs an "n" in the whine cause I think it's the new "no"!
They really want to say "NO". But, they have learned "no" gets a  punishment. So  they have learned to hide  the "n" in "awe-nnnnnn" to which my motto answer has formed in that of a Nike saying "just do it!"
"Child, can you please do the dishes."
"Awennn"
"Just do it"
"Child, write down the spelling words"
"Just do it"
"Do your math, JUST DO IT"
I hadn't realized I had adopted the Nike phrase until, my one year old at the end of one school day that I apparently had to say "just do it" 900 times, stole the white board pen wrote something and said "i.n.p.o." tapped the white board looked at my olds son and said "just do it!"
We all busted up laughing. Nothing like having the littles to mimic all that you are doing so you know exactly what you look like! May we enjoy it in laughter and correction.
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Lord, we are so closely being watched by our young. Help us be good examples, but more lord help our children have hearts of forgiveness and grace toward us as we are still human. Lord may our examples of stumbling and forgiveness be what makes a humble, loving child. May we have grace for ourselves to get up and try again the next day under your mercies and forgivness. Thank you for the tools you give us of being the best ultimate parent who loves us gently and disciplines in love. May we always lift our children up to be solely yours. That what they do matters most for you not me. Help us see where we can take the focus off us as parents and turn it back to you. May we always be putting our children at the feet of you lord Jesus. In your loving name amen!