My Kids Are Trying to Kill Me: Words of Encouragement for Parents

By Jennifer Mittelstet

My Kids Are Trying to Kill Me is a hilarious, yet honest look at parenting. Mittelstet shares stories of her own parenting mishaps to help encourage other parents. She offers insight that shes learned from her journey, not only as a parent but as a former teacher as well, to help other parents who might be struggling. My Kids Are Trying to Kill Me reminds you to laugh with your kids, give yourself a break from the stresses of parenting, and make God the main priority in your life. If youve ever felt like your kids will be the death of you, then this book is a must read.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Feb 27, 2014
• ISBN: 9781490825359

Jennifer Mittelstet

Jennifer Mittelstet has a degree in elementary education from Oklahoma State University. She taught middle school for seven years, specializing in reading, English, and dyslexia. She is a mom of three young boys, who are crazy, full of energy, and the joy of her life. Jennifer has been married to her husband for ten years, and they currently live in Frisco, Texas, where she has been a stay-at-home mom for almost two years now. She and her husband spend most of their free time outside playing with their boys and attending and serving at their church.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Put God First

Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world. —Psalm 46:10 (New Living Translation)

T he absolute only way to survive parenthood is to rely on God for everything every single day. My husband and I begin almost every day on our knees, praying to God. We pray for each of our boys’ very specific daily needs. We also pray throughout the day to ask God to help us, guide us, and give us the wisdom we need to make it through the hours. A lot of days, it is an hour-by-hour struggle, yet I know I can count on my God to get me through these times, especially when I feel like there is no way I can do it on my own.

When Eli, our middle child, was around four weeks old, I really struggled with postpartum depression, extreme exhaustion, learning how to cope with a newborn, and his brother, Luke, twenty-three months. To say I struggled is probably an understatement. My husband worked long days. He left the house before the kids awoke and arrived home most nights after they were in bed. I worked full-time as well, just trying my hardest to survive.

One particularly difficult day, Eli cried and cried. Nothing I tried worked. He was inconsolable. Meanwhile, Luke was running around the house, being his normal, destructive almost-two-year-old self, and acting like a crazy person. I had lost all control of the situation—and even worse, I had lost all hope. So I did the only thing I knew how to do. I sat down and started to cry. The crying quickly turned into sobbing. Very productive, right? I thought, What have I gotten myself into? I can’t do this. I felt exhausted and overwhelmed, and I didn’t see my situation improving anytime in the near future.

At that moment, when I felt like I was at my lowest point and helpless, my precious son Luke walked up to me and forcefully hit me with a hardcover book. Really? Was that necessary? I cried out to God through my sobs, Did you seriously just let that happen?

As I was calling out to God in frustration and anger, I looked down at the book my son had used to hit me over the head. It was his Bible. In that moment my tears turned into hysterical laughter. Okay, God, I get it! You don’t actually have to hit me over the head with the Bible. Isn’t that just a figure of speech, anyway? I’ll read your Word when I feel like I can’t press forward.

God uses bizarre (and quite often comical) experiences to get my attention and remind me of what I’m supposed to do as his child. He has already given me all the answers I need to get through life. They are written in his Word, the Bible. I simply need to read it daily and do the things it tells me to do. It’s really not rocket science. He has already given me all the resources I need. Second Peter 1:3 says, His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness (New International Version).

I already have the patience, courage, strength, enthusiasm, self-control, knowledge, perseverance, godliness, and many other resources I need to be successful and live the life God has set apart and designed specifically for me to live. I don’t need to pray to God for these things. He has already given them to me through his divine power. I simply need to tap into that divine power and use it. By reading his Word I learn these things, and I can apply them to my life.

As I sat on the floor that day in tears that turned to laughter, I didn’t immediately feel strengthened. But that situation gave me hope that God would pull me through this difficult depression. I knew that by reading his Word and staying true to his plan for my life, he would pull me through and set my feet on higher ground. And that’s exactly what he did. He has done that through countless other experiences in my life. God’s promise is that his Word contains all of the answers we need. If we choose to read it, he will direct our path in life.

If you are not a Christian and don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, you need to make a decision to put your life in his hands and trust him to guide your path. I am not a biblical scholar and do not have the entire Bible memorized. And as you can see, my life is far from perfect. I mess up on a daily (and oftentimes hourly) basis. But truly, the only way I get through each day is to rely on God to lead me. He is where my help comes from. He gives me the strength, encouragement, energy, and motivation I need to continue on to love my kids the way he loves me.

Put your trust in God, and you will still have daily trials and struggles, just like everyone else. But your perspective of those trials and struggles will completely change as God showers you with his grace in difficult times and strength in times of struggle. He loves you with a love that is never-ending. His love will never fail you. I can tell you that from my personal experience. The people of this earth will let you down—your spouse, kids, friends, and family—but God never will.

All you have to do to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is simply pray this prayer: God, I can’t do this on my own. I have sinned, and I continue to mess up daily. Please forgive me of my sins and cleanse my life. I need you to help me and guide my life. Please come into my heart, take over my life, and lead me in the direction you want my life to go. I give it all to you. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. It’s that simple. Admit that you can’t do it on your own and you need God to direct your path. The moment you do that, your life will forever be changed. The Holy Spirit will help you daily, and your life will have a new purpose and meaning. You will be completely forgiven and become a new creation in Jesus.

Second Corinthians 5:17 says, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old has gone, the new is here! (NIV). You will be able to start new from this day forward and lead the life you were meant to lead. It will truly be the best decision you ever make. You will not only have God to lead you here on earth, but also eternity in heaven. What do you have to lose? If you’re anything like me, and you’ve tried it on your own, and it’s not working, then turn toward Jesus. He is the only answer and the only one who can change your