Too many words & not enough sleep

Penny will only sleep today if I hold her - or maybe, just maybe, she'll fall back asleep in her bed now as I stay and rock in the rocking chair in her room. And Kaylen was having a very hard time with naptime until I finally got up and snuggled her close instead of talking to her from a few feet away...something I've known all day in my heart is not going to work, but I gave in to tiredness every time and it made it harder on both of us. 

Anyway, i am utterly, completely exhausted, but it appears I might not get to nap after all. (Hooray for weekends, when my awesome husband gets up with the kids so I can sleep in!) But i think it's been worthwhile time, because i've had to reflect a lot on parenting today and decided i've mostly been making  mistakes. :p I read two helpful articles about parenting toddlers and feel refreshed to deal with things better when they get up. Talking to them just doesn't work when I'm not close to them, no matter bad i want it to, and using many words...well, I think there is something in the Bible about the folly of that? They won't suddenly hear me because i finally hit on the right phrase to reach them. Quite honestly, a lot more getting down on their level and wrapping them in my arms and just being quiet for a while or asking how I could help would have been far more effective (especially since that IS what I eventually ended up doing anyway). As a strong-willed kid myself, i feel like I'm well equipped to know what doesn't work (like this "breaking a child's will" stuff I sometimes hear about) -- but then, as a sinner (and a very tired one to boot), it gets so much more complicated. Thank God that on what sometimes seems like the most horrible days (today!), he still gives me grace and lets me see where my own heart much more than my poor toddlers hearts needs to become more like his!

And i still believe that the terrible twos aren't terrible. But oh, the challenges to my heart and mind. :)

I love these little boogers.