A Pot Shot....

Parenting, it's a pot shot right? What works for one rarely works for another, maybe because they watched and caught on. When I have days like I had to day I wonder seriously what happened to my brain and how did all these kids get in my house?? No it's not because we don't own a T.V....... My kids are here each one because I answered the phone and said YES!! I like all parents question my sanity. Today I just question my parenting skills or maybe the lack of them. I get so tired of being told there is only one way to parent a child and your way is best.
Spank?
Don't spank?
Yell?
Don't yell?
Time out?
Uh Oh's?
Go to your room?
Loose a privealage?
Go to bed with or with out dinner?
Call their bluff?
Natural consequences?
I think we have to find what works with each child and that it is a work in progress with each INDIVIDUAL spirit sent to our homes, no matter how they came to us. I think nobody knows a child better than the Mom and Dad who spend day in and day out with them. I have been to more parenting classes than I care to count and still have two more to take this year. I have learned so much and already forgotten so much. When stressful situations occur  and I am pushed to what I believe to be my limits and every lesson or method I have ever learned fly's out the window with
The window screen knocked out.
The pavers into the back yard completely removed and some mutilated.
Easter decorations almost destroyed.
Constatnt fighting and screaming between two 3 year olds.
An argumenative 9 year who is so angry I called his bluff.
A 6 year old who came home with Marker all over her. I mean ALL over her.
Lying
Pushing
Hitting
The list goes on. None of these any big deal alone but on a one right after the other basis with so many other things going on at the same time, overwhelming!!!!

Which parenting skill do I throw at all of these? What do I address, and what do I let go? I guess that's where we reach into our reserve and remember God does not give us more than we can handle,  all though there are days I definately question that, I am human... Some days I feel like such a mess of a Mother and can only imagine how I am going to answer  for this particular day. I reflect on my parents and marvel that they made it through us 10 kids.That alone gives me hope. They are still here and able to talk about it I guess it's not as bad as it seems. I will make it too. For all the things I don't know about parenting the one thing I do know that is no matter how bad it gets my kids will always know at the end of the day that I love them. They also need to know that I infact know a lot, but that I don"t know it all, I don't..... It is sweet and humbling at the end of a day like today to be at my Miss M's bedside apologizing for some of my choices, "Miss M, Mommy is so sorry I got so mad today sometimes I make bad choices too. I have never been a Mommy before and sometimes I don't do it right, I'm Sorry!"   " That's ok Mommy, some times I spell Monkey with an L and monkey does not have an L in it." said with such innocence. I guess maybe it's not a pot shot? I think I am wrong. I think the Lord knows exactly what he is doing and we like Miss M have to be willing to say nobody's perfect and nobody's parenting is perfect and tomorrow we will try and Spell "monkey with out an L together.What a sweet simple reminder that wrong is wrong and right is right and we can repent and start over tomorrow, we can try again every day to get things right wether it be as complex as parenting or as simple as spelling Monkey.