Mercy vs. Consequences

I'm learning a lot these days about both mercy and consequences.  Having an almost 2 year old (wow, cannot even believe that!) gives me lots of practice!  We're at the testing boundaries and sharing opinions phase of parenting and learning as we go!  It seems like much of the day, I spend saying "no, don't do that, try again" etc.  I want to try to frame things more positively and share what to do instead of what not to do.  Anyway, we're trying to be consistent, which is really quite exhausting haha!  It will totally be worth it in the end though!  Even already, I see glimpses of the fruit that it will produce soon enough.  Yesterday, Amelia was eating her sandwich while I was making mine, and she stopped eating and said, "Thanks, the sandwich, mama."  Aw, how sweet!  She thanked me for making her sandwich!  I'm so excited to see the little (and big) people Amelia and Charlotte become!

I read a devotional about mercy today.  It's main message was, when in doubt show someone mercy.  It said to always error on the side of mercy and to not worry about showing too much because Jesus definitely showed "too much" when He died for us on the cross.  We are to follow his example of being merciful to others, giving grace and forgiving even when the person doesn't deserve it.  So, I wonder how you do can do both of these things, consistent consequences and showing mercy, when raising young kids!  Ideas anyone?

I've been really enjoying teaching the Chinese kids online with VIPkid.  I teach most mornings for either and hour or two, while the girls are sleeping.  It's been awesome!  The kids are very sweet and really quite good at English!  The other day I started off teaching a kid named Roy (his English name) and we couldn't get hardly any teaching in because he was trying to take care of his 2 year old brother!  I asked where his mom was and he said she was at work...  So here he is trying to learn a foreign language (during his summer vacation) while trying to take care of a screaming 2 years old!  He was obviously in distress, pulling at his hair, picking up his brother, trying to bounce him on his lap.  Roy is only 8!  Let's hope his mom got home soon and that that isn't a regular occurance.  Poor Roy.  That day we didn't get much teaching done! :( 

Somedays though I can't stop laughing as some little kids dig for boogers during class or try to sing "Row row row your boat" or run to the bath room with only underwear and no pants on! Josh gets a chuckle sometimes too, if he overhears! 

Tonight I'm going out with Beth to the Wyandotte Street Fair!  Bye for now! :D