Lesson learned

Being a parent really teaches a person a lot about a lot of things. I’m sure this is old news for all of you ‘veterans’ out there.

Now that I am a parent, I am constantly reminded of and taught about the relationship that I have with my Heavenly Father. As you know, we are working with Simon on his sleeping. It hasn’t been easy on any of us, but we know that it will be the best for him in the long run. In order for him to learn to soothe himself, we have to leave him alone. It kills me to do that, but we know he can do it.

It would just be so easy to pick him up and snuggle with him when he cries and then we could just fall asleep together. But I know that letting him figure it all out is the best for him.

Last night, he was having a rough night. We knew he was tired, but he was fussier than usual and was really having a hard time staying asleep. He had been doing so well with waking up only one time and then going right back to sleep! We knew something was wrong because of the way he was crying. We put the pieces together and we realized that he was having some tummy problems. At that point, Rob picked him up and held him and just soothed him. He patted Simon’s back to help him feel better. After a nice release of gas from both ends, Simon looked at Rob and then put his sleepy and relieved head on Rob’s shoulder. At the point that he couldn’t do it by himself anymore, his dad had come in and helped him. He needed that extra little bit of help to make it through the night.

Heavenly Father knows what is best for us. He gives us the opportunity to learn and grow. Sometimes it isn’t the most pleasant experience. I don’t imagine that it is easy for Him to see his child crying or upset or feeling down or just feeling like they can’t do it. But, at the point that we feel like we can’t do it anymore, He steps in and takes the burden.

I’m grateful to know that.