Oh My Goodness.

I'm blow drying my hair when the same kid who argued seven hours before, stumbles into the bathroom to continue the argument...something about being too sick and now too tired to go to church...

 

I knew Superman hadn't slept so I already knew public wasn't happening for him either...

I wander into Ward Council alone, rather defeated...

As I leave the meeting I'm informed by one offspring that they're the only one who came to church, because the others were sick/sleeping/didn't want to come...

A texting battle ensues with threats of "there will be consequences" as I sit in the pew...I'm breaking my cardinal rule about not fighting about church...but I was MAD and honestly maybe a little embarrassed...I knew at least two of them had blown off assignments they had...

This is so not how I pictured having young adults/teenagers...Those years of taking them to primary should pay off by now, right?!?! 

I want to just cry...

I'm trying to listen to sacrament meeting, but what I'm really trying to do is convince myself that I'm not a failure and a fraud, as I stuff at least seven packets of Rockets (smarties) as discreetly as possible in my mouth...

A second Kramer offspring wonders into sacrament meeting ten minutes before the end...only just slightly improving my "I've totally failed" pew party.

I needed to talk to my dear friend about some RS stuff so we escaped outside to the sunshine for a few minutes... later as we walk back in the building she says..

" you know Robin, even though some of your kids struggle with Church... You've still raised really good kids"

She is so right... I see their goodness all the time. 

When two of them took me aside and said don't worry about helping Bailey move, we'll make sure she has everything she needs. Goodness.

When one takes me out to lunch or shopping and I watch them interact with the people who serve us and their is kindness and respect, as if they are meeting an old friend. Goodness.

When they ask what they can do to help their Dad when he struggles, showing a greater empathy than most their age. Goodness.

Grateful for my friend's simple sincere observation. I was suddenly more grateful for the blessings each one of my kids are...

Their journey in and through gospel is theirs. Something they must discover in their way and in their time. My love for them, just like their Heavenly Fathers is not dependant on that, and is always there regardless of where they may be in that journey.

I am so grateful for the goodness in each of my kids. We are blessed beyond measure.