Well, last year after Halloween when my children aquired tons and tons of candy, I made Trent the official "Candy Nazi"  He was given a big bucket and told to take it to the basement and hide it, and he would be responsible for doleing it out to the other kids.  This was done primarily so that I would stay out of the candy. (Last year I was doing NO sugar.)  However, this year, I am not restricting myself quite as much.... til after the baby is here anyway.  But  Trent has taken his task so seriously, that we decided to implement it again.  This kid really amazes me.  He will truely stay out of it.  Last year it lasted clear til Christmas.  We don't have quite the quantity that we did last year, but the candy is better.... Read that as harder for mom to stay out of.  

Today Trent gets to go to Evan's plunge with a buddy of his.  He was there once when he was maybe 2, so this will be a fun day for him.  The draw backs are the other 3 are going to be missing him (as am I) and the candy is not guarded... Either from the other 3, who do not have Trent's restraint, or myself. 

It really makes me think about how disciplined a kid can be, and how most of the time I am not.  I love structure and consistancy, but in some areas, I just fail miserably.  There are a hundred books on how to parent, how to discipline, how to correct.  There are hundreds of books on how to make yourself more disciplined and fit more into a day.  I love the premis, but a lot of the time the grace is missing in the how to.  My kids are fallen sinners, they need correction, but I need to extend grace to them, too.  I need to shoot for a high standard, because I am a child of God with a calling to sanctification, but have to remember that He's given His perfect grace to me.  And I am going to fail miserably. 

God is not desirous of a performance.  He wants me to realize where I am, what I came from, and glorify Him in my every moment.  And God is taking into account my gifts, my personality, my quirks, and teaching me through those things, not inspite of them.  That's where I get it wrong sometimes with my kids.  Each of them is different, each of them needs different kinds of discipline.  One size does not fit all.  Nat is the one who needs complete consistancy, and OFTEN, Trent is a self regulator, Gabby is ultra-sensitive to correction.  Max is Max a little of everything.  Consistancy is necessary in parenting no matter what the child is like. Kids need to know that we mean business, but God doesn't have one way that He deals with all of us in our sin.  He knows us so intimitely that  He brings the right amount of conviction when we need it. Food for thought, especially for a fallen parent of soon to be 5.