We’ve had our fair share of meltdowns recently over here at the Bluhm house. For some I’ve kept a steady head and for some I wanted to rip the head off of a teddy bear. Last night was epic. After multiple reminders of what would happen if child in question did not calm down the unthinkable happened. I followed through. Now he knows mama means business. I’m not for empty threats. Here’ the part that made me breathe a sigh of relief, I kept calm. My good friend the Holy Spirit was coaching me second by second. Rather than let my heart beat out of my chest with my eyes wide he kept me tender, soft spoken, and reminding my darling boy we were in this together. Was it pretty? No. Did I remain calm? Yes. Was my darling son so upset he almost lost his Valentines candy? Yes. After he finally calmed down I reminded him how much Jesus, mommy, and daddy love him. The biggest bomb the Holy Spirit instructed me to drop was love. In the moments of his meltdown, which weren’t chalked up to poor behavior but some identity stuff we are working through, I knew my one job was to illuminate the love of Jesus, no matter who my son is he will be loved. No matter what his struggle he will be loved. No doubt about it that love will be our banner.

If we are committed to waving the banner of love then our actions and our thoughts, they all fall in line. They don’t go looking to destroy but instead they build up, they climb in the trench and work through the yuck together. That’s what love does in parenting, in marriage, and in friendship. It’s easy to claim love, isn’t it? To live it out, to remain tender, offering a sweet spirit in the midst of intense moments is so hard.

As my son is becoming who God intended him to be so I am becoming who God intended me to be. He chose our children to mold us and make us as much as we are molding them. Albeit in different way but molding in a way that He intends.

To the mamas managing meltdowns:

• may love be your banner, a banner of comfort and protection over the hearts of both you and your littles in the heat of the frustration
• may prayer be your go to, the messy, raw, desperate kinds
• may forgiveness flow as free as the bath water, we need it, they need it, we all need it
• may grace be given as often as you give smiles, hugs, and kisses all over your sweet babies
• if all else fails shout out to God while making a plate of charcuterie

Have you read about how I’m learning to bless my spunky son when I want to scream at him?  Or encouragement for desperate moments of motherhood?