A Healthy Fear

I have to say after spending time with our dear friends today I have gained a healthy fear of toddlers. NOT because their young one is a terror, quite the opposite in fact (she's as cute as a bug in a rug), but because I have NO IDEA of what to do with a child that age. I feel increasingly unprepared for the task at hand. I look down and see this belly growing larger daily and wonder, "When you come out, am I going to screw you up???"

For instance, discipline and the correct application of it is most intimidating. I hear my friends loud and clear when they sigh and say, "You learn as you go." But somehow that doesn't make it less of a Mt. Everest. I don't want to become one of 'those' mothers who looses her cool in the middle of the grocery store and everyone around stares and shakes their head thinking of the million things she should be doing but isn't... therefore disrupting all things with ears a mile around. And I know that's what happens, I'm guilty of it myself.

And what do you do all day long?? This might sound silly, but am I ready to entertain a little person 24/7? I suppose that too is learned as you go. What do toddlers do? Babies seem straight forward- they eat, poop, burp and sleep. But once mobile.. you're on for a wild ride! They can actually run around and DO stuff!

Please don't judge me based on this moment of weakness, which is mostly stimulated by a delicious meal and all the blood running to digest it rendering me mentally incompetent. And really I'm sure this is a normal reaction to childbearing and rearing. So, please say a little prayer for me to regain perspective. The Lord hears the cry of His children and will always supply their needs, and in this case bravery to face this fear.