They Make Us Be This Way

Children confound me. Especially my own.

Ever since Miracle was little I have been mystified. It seemed as if the nicer I was to her, the meaner she would be to me. She would become more and more disobedient the more I tried to coax and cajole. Eventually I would break down and yell, then she would do whatever it was I asked her nicely to do. I can remember saying to my mom, "She makes me be mean to her!!!!!"

I figured Miracle was the only child who behaved that way. Not so. Grace is the same way. The nicer you try to be, the more obstinate she becomes. Mike said to me the other day, after getting after Grace for something, "You know, they make us be this way."

Truer words were never spoken.