Sometimes (many times) as a parent, you fail miserably while trying to do the right thing. Sometimes those things can frighten or even emotionally scar your children. Sometimes those fears have the potential to send your children to therapy when they get older. Here are two “gems” from this weekend.
Sophie took a sudden interest in Easter on Friday night. Not the Easter Bunny-candy-eggs-baskets version, but the REAL reason we celebrate Easter. I talked to her about Jesus dying on Good Friday, and that we celebrate Him coming back to life on Easter. She asked how He died, so we talked about the Crucifix. You know, the GIANT Crucifix that is front-and-center at church every week when we go to mass. The Crucifix that we have hanging in our own house and on every single rosary she has ever seen. The Crucifix that I was certain she had noticed before. Not so. This was totally new to her and she was horrified at what they had done to Jesus, rightfully so. I tried my best to put a positive spin on it for her, letting her know that He did it because He loved us and wanted us to get into Heaven with Him one day. She didn’t buy it. So she insisted on getting into our bed Friday and sleeping with us…because she’s scared of Jesus now, and the Crucifix. When we went to mass on Easter Sunday, it was the first thing she noticed as we walked into church. She looked at me with wide eyes and said, “Mama, is that the real Jesus?” (Strike one)
After spending all day visiting family for Easter, we brought home a van load of candy, and other Easter goodies along with three tired little girls with very high blood sugar. They got all sorts of candy, and small toys from grandparents, aunts and uncles. One of the things they were most excited about were some glow sticks that I told them they could take to bed. We got them in their pajamas, brushed their teeth, said prayers and tucked them in. Then Walter snapped the glow sticks and shook them up. Sophie asked me what would happen if we broke them and poured the water out, and I casually mentioned that they were poisonous, so don’t try to open them. She came in our room not ten minutes later crying hysterically that she didn’t feel good. I knew this wasn’t true because she was fine just minutes before. I finally got her to tell me what was really wrong and she confessed that she didn’t want her glow stick any more. She was afraid it would poison her. In fact, she thought it was best to just throw it away. So we did. I tried to convince her that she would need super human strength to break it open, but she couldn’t be swayed. I sent her back to bed only to hear her and Lilly BOTH crying just minutes later. When I checked on them again they told me that they didn’t want Lilly to drink hers and die. So Lilly’s got thrown away, too. Drama! Lilly then proclaimed that there were to be “no more glow sticks in our house” and that was that. Scared of glow sticks…(Strike two)
Twice, TWICE, in 48 hours I managed to turn something that should be fun (Easter and glow sticks at bedtime) into terrifying and traumatic experiences for my girls. I wonder what I’d have to do to scare them away from Play-doh and Chuck E. Cheese???
The Ballard Five 
I can see Lilly’s face now with her squinched up nose saying no more glo sticks! And now I understand why Sophie asked 20 questions in church yesterday. Great kiddos you got there! All 3 of them!
LikeLike
I am laughing so hard right now…little girls drama but I only laugh because I can totally see mine doing the same thing! At least yours recognize Jesus, when June Ann was about three she saw a picture of Jesus on the cross and she asked who the bleeding Indian was…parent fail!
I can’t wait to follow this all the time!
LikeLike
Just look at what Evelyn has to look forward to.lolYou’re doing a great job Amanda,they’ll be fine!!!
LikeLike
Love it!! Nice to see other parents “fail” too!! LOL
LikeLike
I wouldn’t think it would be too hard to scare them away from Chuckie Cheese because that mouse is kinda creepy 😂
LikeLike