some scenes...

scene one- jamey crying. fell and hit his head. "nora, did you push him?" "no." "nora, how did he fall so hard? did you push him?" (goes on for a few minutes, with no being the answer). finally... "i just helped him move".

scene two- jamey crying. bite marks. "nora did you bite him?" "nope. sadie did". "nora, sadie didn't bite james. did you bite him?" "nope. mommy did." "nora, i didn't bite jamey. did you bite him?" "nope, daddy did." "nora, daddy is at work, did you bite james?" "nope, sadie did." (repeat a few times, until...) "nora who bit james?" "nora did"

scene three- nora in room, napping, jamey playing in his room. i switch the laundry and find james in nora's room. (she wasn't supposed to open her door) "nora, who opened your door?" "james". "nora, james is too little to open the door. did you open the door?" "no. james pushed on it with his hands." (see previous encounters for how it turns out!!!)

we are working on the lying thing. HOWEVER... it's been really fun for it to be Easter week with a toddler! we watched a movie today about Jesus' death and resurrection. and it's a good topic to discuss when dealing with sin. Jesus loves us so much that He came to earth and died on the cross to take away our punishment. THEN, He rose again. He is more powerful than even death. He loves us so much that He would take away that punishment. all we have to do is believe in Him!

okay, so she doesn't quite get it yet, but we're working on it. and it makes it that much more meaningful for me this year! REALLY remembering what Jesus did and why. and, in all my glaring imperfections and sins as a mother and human... HE loves ME! how awesome is that!!! it makes Good Friday all that much more good this year! (and we are praying for the days when nora and james fully understand what good friday and Easter mean!)

ps. anyone who ever tells you sin isn't inborn has never met a toddler! even james. he knows he is not supposed to get the dog food. and when he does, he crawls away so fast when i come to get it from him. he KNOWS he is doing wrong...