Week 2: The Meltdown

Well, we have completed week 2 of the fast. It was an up and down week.

Monday was almost surreal. After Brenda left for her fitness class, the girls and I had a very nice spaghetti dinner. We laughed and giggled and just plain had fun. After dinner I got on the computer and found an online radio broadcast of a hockey game to listen to while I did the dishes. The girls (you probably should be sitting down for this) went into the living room and TURNED ON THE CLASSICAL MUSIC RADIO STATION (I'm NOT kidding). Corinna lay down on the couch because she was tired, and Cecily proceeded to read to her little sister for over half an hour.

I finished the dishes and walked into the living room. When I saw the girls I stopped and looked around expecting to hear Rod Serling say, "You are traveling through another dimension...the Twilight Zone". I honestly sat down in my chair and just enjoyed watching them for the next ten minutes. Then they got ready for bed and I read to them (Where the Sidewalk Ends). It was wonderful.

Later in the week Brenda called and canceled the TV satellite dish because we simply can no longer afford it with her only working as a substitute teacher. We told the girls about it on Friday morning before school and explained that, when we do start watching some TV again, we would not have the satellite which means none of their favorite channels. It was taken remarkably well by both of them -- or so I thought.

It was when Brenda and the girls arrived home from school that the idea finally sunk in to sweet Corinna's mind; an absolute meltdown fit for the ages ensued. This pint-sized nuclear bomb went off! She started by screaming, crying, then stomped into her bedroom, kicking toys and clothes out of the way as she entered (their room often resembles the forbidden cave of squalor). Then she had to go potty, so she stomped into the bathroom, kicked the bathtub as she sat on the toilet, then pounded on the sink with her little fists after she was done. My first question to Brenda was, "And did you let this go on?" She didn't. My second question was, "Did you get it on video?". She didn't.

Brenda had been telling Corinna to control herself all along, but after pounding on the sink it was time for them to sit down and talk. Brenda talked to her about controlling her anger and they prayed, asking Jesus to help Corinna calm down. Then they went into the living room to color for a while. After about thirty minutes Corinna proclaimed, "Hey, Mommy! It worked! I'm not mad anymore!"

I have no doubt in my mind that we were led into this fast by God. I see everyday how He is blessing it.