Our family is getting ready for Creation at the end of the month. It’s a wonderful time of music, camping and fellowship in Mt. Union, PA. We had a great time last year with near-perfect weather and I’m sure this year will be a blast too. Some of the groups to take to the stage this year are Newsboys, Reliant K, Casting Crowns, MercyMe, Caedmon’s Call and Switchfoot.

This year my sister and her family are tagging along with us. Between our two families, there will be eight children 7 and under at our campsite. This is going to be an interesting experience.

Believe it or not, I’ve been wondering if there is Internet access so I can post here. It’s going to be tough to go without my computer for a week.

I decided to venture ouside the house today. I’m really a homebody; I like to stay home only going out to the market once a week, church on Sunday and the occasional library trip. There are those days when I need to escape from the routine. Today was one of those days.

We need carpet for our new home addition, so it was off to the local department store to make my big (expensive) selection. Of course I had all the kiddos with me and as we pulled into the parking lot, I gave The Speech.

Parents with children under the age of ten are familiar with The Speech. It goes something like this, “I hope you remember how to behave in the store. Please stay with me: no running, no touching everything. This is not a playground, okay?” “Sure, Mom!” comes the reply from the little voices in the backseat.

I fall for it every time.

Now my wonderful children are not monsters. You know those children that run amuck unsupervised, screaming and leaving a trail of destruction. My gang isn’t that bad, but if unchecked, things will rapidly head in that direction. Today I am hopeful The Speech is going to be the magic pill that will turn my children into the mommy-pleasing, demur darlings that I want them to be during this shopping trip.

It’s obivious that’s not going to happen, for as we reach the door, I hear my six-year-old mumble to her younger brothers. “I remember this place, it’s boring.”

That’s because there are no toys to beg mommy to buy, I think to myself.

We make our way to the back of the store and I start flipping through the carpet samples. Within seconds the only one not exploring the hanging rugs on display is the baby, and she is strapped in the infant car seat. I try to regain control. It works for about 30 seconds. Again I demand they sit on floor where I can see them. No such luck.

Now I’m starting to feel like every eye in the store is watching me and my lack of parenting skills. I want to escape, but I need this carpeting and I don’t want to come back later. Plus it’s about time these young ones learn self-control. I give them my best “you-better-behave-or-else” lecture but it still isn’t working. I quickly find a carpet I like and hussle the children to the car.

I wish I could tell you I got the children to behave but that’s not true. There is no magic wand to make your children well behaved in a department store. Or in any situation for that matter.

I can’t force my children to act a certain way; the only one I can control is myself. When my two-year-old runs up and down the isles of the store, it’s how I react to him that I can control. When my five-year-old tells me he is hungry for the tenth time, how I respond is my responsiblity. When my daughter complains of boredom, what should I do?

If I want my children to learn self-control, I must practice it in my responses to them. Only then will they learn how to glorify the Lord not only in their words and deeds, but in their reacions as well.

Flounder is defrosting now in the refrigerator. I have asparagus as a side dish along with a green salad. That will satisfy the grown-ups, the little ones are a little selective in what they eat. (That’s a nice way of saying they are picky.)

Susan will dip the fish in ketchup, but at least she’s eating it. Peter may try the flounder, but most likely he’ll stick to picking out the grape tomatoes from the salad. Edmund is difficult to predict. He chows at breakfast and lunch, so by dinner he is sometimes content with a liquid diet- chocolate milk. I suspect he will reject the food and spend most of the meal getting in and out of his chair. That’s what happens when you are almost three-years-old. Play is more important than food.

Getting any of them to try the asparagus will take coaxing and flat-out bribery.

I know the day is coming when dinner will not be an exercise in patience for Joe and I. No longer will we be cutting meat into little pieces. They will serve themselves without making a mess. I won’t have to vacuum under the table after a meal.

Part of me is happily looking forward to it. Doc and I could have a grown-up conversation without interuption; I wouldn’t have to wipe sticky faces or hands. The other part of me wants to hold on to this time forever. Once the children are older they might not be home for dinner due to sports, youth group or other activities that take a young person’s time.

For now I’ll use dinnertime for what it is, a time to teach my children to enjoy the food and our family. A time to be together.

Tonight, Doc -my husband- and I are going to see the new Star Wars movie, Revenge of the Sith. I had no intention of seeing it in the theatre until my sister gave it a hearty recommendation. As any nursing mother can tell you, it can be tough to get away sans baby when he or she needs you often for feedings. That was one of the reasons I was content to wait for this latest Star Wars movie to come to DVD. I’m selective as to when to leave our newborn with a sitter. (Lucy is our “latest model” and only a mere six weeks.)

So I’m going. Being a seasoned mother sure has changed me. We didn’t leave our firstborn until she was at least six months old. And then only with my trusted mother. Second and third born children… I can’t remember! Too busy mothering to remember such things, I guess. Now Lucy has the benefit of me being a veteran mommy- and a more relaxed mommy too.

The things I worried about with my firstborn do not faze me at all now. Peoples’ germs. Sleeping thru the night. Gettimg a picky toddler to eat, No problem. Let baby flex her immunity muscles a bit. Sleep will come with time. Same with eating anything besides chicken nuggrts.

I hope I do not sound like I have it all together as a mother- I know I have a long way to go. With the Lord’s help this veteran mommy will be the best mommy she can be.

And sometimes that means leaving the little ones home to go see a Star Wars movie.