Parenting is painful

Parenting is painful. If you're a parent, you know that.
For me, I have moments where I think, "Oh, this hurts."
Lately, since we've hit the two year old mark, things have felt more painful.
Braden tests me on a daily basis. All. Day. Long.
You want me to be nice to my sister? I'm going to push her over and run!
I'm suppose to eat this healthy food? But I just want m's and I'm going to scream about it!
Sit in time out? What? Are you kidding me? Why don't you make me?
Don't run into the street? I'm going to give the sneakiest look ever and go towards the street!
Really, the list goes on and on. And I suck at being consistent.
I'm trying, but I'm in no way perfect.
Anyway, back to how it's painful.
Clearly, there are times when he needs to be disciplined for the choices he is making.
Or we have to make him do something.
And gosh I hate that part of parenting.
It hurts my heart...
And it takes a whole lot of effort to not just give in and let him do what he wants.
Minus, letting him run into the street, obviously.

"Whoosh, whoosh!" he says, as he runs after a plane.

Just last night, however, we had a battle with him.
Actually, I let daddy have this battle because he's just better at it.
Braden didn't want to eat his healthy dinner and daddy told him he had to eat one more bite.
He made him stay at the table until he took that bite too!
It was painful for me, especially when his little eyes found mine and begged to be done.
He does that to me...
Looks at me with those sweet little eyes and I just want to give him the world.
I'm realizing though that the world I want to give him...
Is one where he is healthy and able to be the best him he can be.
It's hard and painful sometimes.
I think it's suppose to be because...
Through the pain we grow as parents and they grow as our children.