Thursday, January 7, 2010

Are the Cops on their way?

I had to go outside, just for a minute.  I knew my patience was running thin and I just needed a quick breather.  As I walked around the side of the camper, I saw red tail lights that had just passed our camper.  I thought, please don't let it be the cops.  I turned around to see the headlights pull into a spot two campsites behind us.  I decided to just walk over and see, just in case it was the cops, I might as well get the explanations over with.  I was so relieved when I saw it was just HL and Norma, pulling into their campsite.  You see, it had been one of those crazy evenings living in a camper.

Now, you may be wondering why on earth would I be scared the cops were coming.  I love police.  I pray for them and appreciate everything they do.  And yes, I am a law abiding citizen, for the most part.  Well, let me start the explanation by taking you back to Florida City, Florida, one year ago.

I had just gotten over a really bad sickness.  I was 5 months pregnant.  My little one year old, Josie, had always nursed, and when I got sick, I had to stop nursing her.  Yes, I nursed her while I was pregnant, it is very safe as long as I am healthy, which I was not anymore.  I weaned her and she did just fine.  I snuggled with her everynight at bedtime.  I would tell her stories of princesses and princes, flowers and butterflies.  It was a wonderfully sweet time that we both enjoyed. 

This particular night she didn't want to sleep.  It was late and I needed to get up and take care of a few things.  After laying with her for an hour, I told her I was going to get up and clean.  She cried and screamed as loud as she could.  I layed with her again to try to calm her, but she had herself in a bad mood now and only something drastic, like a cartoon, would get her out of it.  So, I turned on Qubo and tried to calm her.  She screamed a while longer and then settled down.  I was so worried that the people around us would call the cops because they thought we were abusing our children!  The walls of the camper are so thin that you can hear most everything from outside.  People on the outside don't know I had just snuggled with her for the last hour.  People on the outside don't know that I give my life for my children.  People on the outside don't know how loved and cared for my children are.  All they can hear is a child screaming!  Well, I was so thankful that no one called the police. 

Well, back to the present.  We are in Arizona.  Josephine cannot stand to have her hair washed.  I have tried everything.  And believe me, I know how to do this.  I have six kids!  I don't wash her hair too often, just the minimum amount necessary to keep her clean.  So, it was time to wash her hair, no matter what.  I layed her down, gently, in the bottom of our shower.  I always put a wash rag over the drain and make it into a little bath tub for her.  She did not want to have her hair washed...no matter what.  I talked loving to her, told her what I was going to do, had a rag for her forehead, was very careful, but she just screamed and yelled!  So, I decided to try a totally different approach.  I put one of our couch cushions on the counter with a garbage bag over it.  I put a towel on her forehead after I layed her on her back on the cushion.  I used a cup to gently and slowly pour water on her head.  Cody held her legs so she wouldn't fall off.  It worked well.  She didn't cry at all.  When I finally got the conditioner washed out, I put her down, dried her off, and sent her to play.  It was then that I walked outside to take my deep breath.  Who knows what the neighbors think.  I wasn't doing anything to harm her, she just does not like to have her hair washed!  Now some would say they would never let their child do that.  Good for you.  I have had some children that don't mind having their hair washed, some that like the water running over their face, and others that just don't want to wash at all!  By the time you have six kids you have a good mixture of personalities. 

Disciplining and training in a camper is very difficult.  It is probably the one of the biggest challenges of traveling full time.  Everyone can hear everything.  Even when I am just trying to console an injured child, people could mistake that for something else.  Sometimes people make assumptions that aren't true.  I don't hurt my children in any way.  I love them dearly.  I feed them well, care for them, give them the whole United States for a back yard.  I support them in anything they feel led to do.  But all it takes is one stranger walking by our camper, hearing a 2 year old screaming, and think we are abusing her.  They don't know I just spent one hour snuggling with her, telling her stories. 

I have a couple good friends that were wrongly accused of abusing their child.  I know these people personally.  These particular friends are good people.  It breaks my heart for them.  It has been over a year and they have only seen their daughter a couple of times.  It is so awful that one hateful person can make an accusation and then children can be taken from their family.Yet, the neighbor down the road does drugs and gets to keep their kids. Crazy world isn't it. I know there are people that really do abuse their children.  They will rot in hell unless they repent and change their lives.

1 comment:

  1. I have to admit that your title caught my eye! As another FOTR, I do realize exactly how thin the walls of the camper are! Glad to have found your blog and will make sure to stop back and check it out again. Blessings on your journey.:)

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