Training Johnny to Sit Still

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By Sandra Sellers Riordan

So here is a typical situation I have seen over and over again:

Mom has a doctor's appointment and no one to baby sit Johnny. Mom and Johnny enter the waiting room. Mom looks distressed because she already knows how this is going to turn out; it has happened too many times before.

"Oh well," she reasons, "surely no one expects a 2 1/2 year old to sit still and quite, right?  Others in the waiting room will be understanding."

She sits Johnny down and gives him a toy while she pulls a magazine from the table beside her. Nervously eyeballing her son, she tries to pretend that everything is going to be fine, hoping that things will be different this time.  Wow, Johnny is still for one minute, then two, now going on three!  This is looking hopeful!  After two minutes and 39 seconds Johnny starts getting fidgety.  Laying down his toy, he prostrates himself in his seat and begins throwing his legs up in the air.  Mom pulls him back to a sitting position, Johnny groans and whines.  Thirty seconds later he jumps down on the floor and crawls under his chair and barks like a dog.  Mom is faintly aware that others in the room are beginning to notice and be annoyed by Johnny's behavior. At this point it becomes a personal issue for mom because she is feeling embarrassed.  This frustrating situation continues until it resembles a wrestling match between mom and son and everyone is watching.  She jerks Johnny up by the arm with everything but a look of love for her son on her face. She exits the room with Johnny screaming and wears him out.

What is going on here?  Who is winning in this situation?  No one.  Who is mom most concerned about?  Herself.  Does this situation reflect the nature and character of God?  No.  What has Johnny gained from his mother's behavior?  A dislocated arm and a great example of being out of control, which is already his problem.  What should mom expect?

The good news is that after this scenario, mom thinks, "There's got to be a better way."

She determines in her heart to make a change and seeks the counsel of an experienced Godly mother. Mom learns about herself and how to remedy her problem in just three days.