Learning from Messes

Samuel and Bella really play so well together, but this is what I went upstairs to find the other day. I try to help them keep their rooms clean, but I am not always successful! I have a baby girl who really likes to be held and personally I would rather enjoy my baby then worry about their toys (as long as the toys are contained to their room or the basement!).


This was the funny conversation we had as I looked into this total disaster and realized that someone had climbed up in the top of the closet and thrown down a lot of the Barbie toys I had stored away. (Our neighbor girl gave us 49, Yes 49 Barbies and TONS of accessories about 6 months ago. I let Bella choose 5 Barbies and some clothes and then I stored the rest up in the closet.)

Me: "Kids what happened in here! It looks like someone got out the Barbie stuff."

(I was sure I knew who had done this because Bella is my monkey girl and Samuel just likes to encourage her. He is not a climber. He thinks to much about the consequences of risky behavior!)

Samuel: "Jesus just helped me do it mom."

Me: "He did?"

Samuel: "Yep, He helped me be brave so I could climb up in the closet and get them down"

I just told the kids that they would have to pick up the mess later and let them enjoy all the Barbies. Then I laughed to myself thinking how my lunch time teaching the day before had led to this.

Every day as the kids are eating lunch I read them articles out of the Friend magazine or tell them Scripture stories as we look at pictures out of the Gospel Art Kit. Lunch used to be such a challenge, but now I look forward to this time to teach them of what really matters. The other day as we were talking about a particular scripture story I told them that Heavenly Father and Jesus can help them be brave and do hard things. Obviously Samuel took this to heart even if it was being brave to do something I considered naughty!

Each night as I tuck the kids in bed I ask them what their favorite part of the day was and then what they didn't like about that day. That night both of them told me their favorite part of the day was playing with all the Barbie stuff. I was so glad I didn't get mad at them for making such a GIANT mess, because we can eventually get it picked up. I realized this incident could have easily been the worst part of their day based on how I reacted. (I wish I could be this patient everyday! I'm working on it, but don't always succeed.)

I later caught Bella in the top of the closet throwing down the remaining Barbie items.

The kids were so excited to show Chuck and I what they had put together with a good portion of the Barbies.