|
Hi all, if you're reading this I'd like to ask you to take a minute and pray for our adopted daughter Leona. She has been quite a handful lately (see previous posts). It really seemed like things were improving until a few days ago. She has been able to keep her underwear dry for months now, including at nighttime (although there were a couple of accidents at night-no big deal to me since I never really expected her to be dry at night-that was just a bonus!!). She has been testing us by lying about everything imaginable and sometimes throwing fits. I have sensed that she was doing this for attention (I thought the same thing about wetting her pants) and because I am sure those are 2 behaviors that she practiced a great deal in Liberia. The other day I was beginning to get sick and I just had enough of her lying and misbehaving and really lost my patience and screamed and yelled at her. I really haven't done that before (although I am sure I spoke in a frustrated tone quite a few times!). I don't know if that is what set her off, but I am guessing it was. A few nights before that she had wet her bed (someone was in the bathroom when she got up to go, so she just went back to bed instead of asking to use a different bathroom). She was made to clean up after herself and was fine for a few days. Then I yelled at her for lying and throwing a fit. Later that day she asked to go to the bathroom and 10 min. later (after she had gone to the bathroom) sat on the chair and wet her pants.. Since then we've had many more episodes (including that exact same scenario again). She has been wetting her pants more than my 2 year old who just got potty trained. And still the lying goes on too. Recently, I had been looking for every opportunity to praise her for good behavior (especially in reference to telling the truth). She has been misbehaving so much that it is difficult to find the good things to praise her about. Today, I tried something new that included dealing with her misbehavior as quickly as possible (to minimize the attention she gets for it) and employing the other kids to watch her while she cleaned up after herself (same reason). There were a few other things that I tried and I am just praying that some of them will work!! I can't even leave the house with a 6 year old who pees her pants this much!! We did discuss the possiblity of going to the park if she was miraculously a "big kid" and could keep her underwear dry again. I keep praying for wisdom from the Lord-this is certainly something that I've never experienced before (although I did have 2 kids who wet the bed until they were about 5-6, just none that purposely peed their pants during the day!). So, that is the long version of why we would GREATLY appreciate any prayers on our behalf (did I mention that the baby will be coming in about 2 weeks?!!). I have noticed something very good about all this though--(must be God's perfect timing!!). The kids loved playing with Leona right away when she came and no one really enjoyed Josephine much because she misbehaved an awful lot. But now the tables are turned, and it's been very exciting to watch Josephine blossom and also see how the others are enjoying playing with her more. Sydney (age2) used to screech everytime Josephine would touch her and now they are buddies! It is so cute to watch them sign to each other! Just so you all know, I was at my wits end for a while (from about Jan. through July) with Josephine also--For a while I thought I completely misunderstood what God had been telling us when we decided He wanted us to adopt her! Again, my new favorite verse: Galatians 6:9, Let us not grow weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. |
Comments
|
|
|
|
|
Posted by
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|