another afternoon at WIC

We spent another 2 hours at the WIC office this afternoon getting re certified and our next few months vouchers. I don't know why it takes so long at this office. But its really annoying. I had an appt at 2:15, I arrived at 2. I wasn't seen by anyone till 3, first weight check with one person, followed by a meeting with the nutritionist, followed by a meeting with someone else to sign for the vouchers. We didn't get out of there till 4. Between each person we make our way back to the crowded, hot waiting room to fight with other children while we parents guilty ply our children with not the most nutritious snacks right under the "no food or drink allowed" signs. I think they would have a riot if they actually enforced that rule. If they honestly don't want people eating or drinking they shouldn't be dealing with children, or making them wait for a super long time. But that's just what I think.

Today I had butter (or shortbread) cookies to calm my children. Liam found a bag of candy left over from the movie in my huge bag, and wanted that. I felt really silly saying "No candy, you can have this cookie instead." Ah, the life of a parent. In my defense, they are cookies recommended by our nutritionist (not at the Wic office) as they have a high fat calorie count which is beneficial to my underweight children, but I'm sure the parents snickering in the waiting room didn't know that. sigh.

On the spectrum of "meeting with people in regards to my children's weight" this was one of my better experiences. Finn gained 10 oz, and 3/4 of an inch these past two months, so he is trucking along at the 5%ish for height, and under 5th% for weight, but steady at 25% in the height/weight ratio, and following the curve, which is always a good sign. Liam gained 2 pounds these past two months, and no height, and so he jumped up to the 10% for weight, and dropped down to the 5% for height...I am trying not to be discouraged by this fact.

I am trying to remind myself that they all grow at different rates, and maybe he'll shoot up next week, and be back at the 50% for height. I'm trying to remind myself that these charts really don't mean anything about life in the real world, or how tall he will be when he grows up, or are in any way a reflection of my skills as a mother...but the devil's on my back right now, weighing me down. The little tidbit the Father of Lies keeps whispering in my head is something the doctor and nutritionist said about "wanting them to have the fat stores that they need so they can grow to their full potential, and what a poor mother I must be, not stuffing them full of food constantly. Because of my lack of constant attention to all they should be, but are not eating, they will be short men, and not successful in life." I know these are lies, and I know the one telling them to me wants me to believe them and despair, but I'm having a rough time battling it right now. I just need to remind myself that my children are a gift to me from God, and that in the end they are in His hands. Maybe just by writing this out I can have an easier time telling Satan to go back where he belongs and once again commit my life and the lives of my children into the hands of God. Sorry for the philosophical ramblings here...but it is my blog after all.