Parenting Struggles

Yesterday was a particularly difficult day at church. I was left frustrated and overwhelmed with Collin. I have never had to deal with a child refusing to go to primary on Sunday. The girls were always excited to go to primary and even as Sunbeams were SO well behaved. But Collin is different and has been extremely clingy in many different areas. Yesterday was different even then usual. He honestly threw a fit when I told him it was time for primary. He did not want to go to primary. He stood against the wall until someone else came and conned him into going to primary. After there, he caused more problems because he was being disruptive and still getting to do the activities, like fishing, when other kids who were being reverent and sitting quietly hoping for a turn didn't get one. Apparently, he had fun, but he was still causing problems. So once he goes to his class, he is disruptive and mean to the other kids. He refuses to do what the teachers ask and just causes problems. So they bring him to me. After missing all of Sunday School because he was waiting in the hall being ornery, I had to miss the majority of Relief Society too because he was being disruptive in class.

How can I stay mad at this face?...UGH!

He is such a different child than my girls were. It is so hard to not compare them. After breaking down in tears multiple times before leaving church and crying most of the way home from church, I felt like just giving up on Primary and just taking him home every week (not that I would actually ever do that). I got home and got dinner started and went and hid in my room for a while with my scriptures. I opened the scriptures up to 2 Nephi 33. I started reading and got as far as verse 3. "But I, Nephi, have written what I have written, and I esteem it as of great ^aworth, and especially unto my people. For I ^bpray continually for them by day, and mine ^ceyes water my pillow by night, because of them; and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry." It is a simple scripture, but yesterday it just spoke to me. "For I pray continually for them by day and my eyes water my pillow by night." As a parent I think this is especially true. But as a child, I also know it is true. For those we are stewards over (namely our children) we pray for them, and cry for them often. But there are those who also do the same for us. Our parents pray for us, even my children pray for me, my Heavenly Father 'prays' for me (though it may not exactly be prayer, I don't know how that would work exactly). But there are tears shed for us by many and prayers sent up by many. As a parent, I have to remember that there are people fighting for me too. There are people above who are hoping for me, praying for me, crying for me, watching over me, and they know what I am going through. I am sure my mom spent many nights 'watering her pillow' for me and my siblings. Now she watches over me and knows what I am going through.

So what are your tips and tricks for getting kids happy to go to primary (or sunday school, or child care at church - Whatever you do at your church). I am not sure it is a struggle I can do each week. I am not sure I can handle another Sunday like I had yesterday.