I don't remember praying for patience.

"I'm gonna go brush my teeth for a min".
"It's 4 in the afternoon".
"I know".
"She's annoying you isn't she".

That is a conversation that has happened in our home lately. Of course that happens. She's 2. When they repeat words time after time or just grunt instead of using words or running around the store hiding inside the clothes rack or when they turn 12 and suddenly know more than you do. It happens. Kids can be annoying at times. And it's going to happen at almost every stage they are in. It's important to remind yourself of that often. Anybody that you spend enough time with can start to rub you the wrong way. But it is not healthy to feel like you are "stuck" with your children. As parents we need to mentally prepare for these situations ahead of time so that instead of pulling our hair out, we can take a breath and deal with the situation appropriately. Let's look at three steps that help us handle these situations.

1. Think of those things that annoy you the most. Actually sit down and write out the actions that bother you the most so you can keep track of them. You can even make a note when it happens. You might have a new winner the next time you see them.

2. Ask yourself why that bothers you so much. (inwardly or outwardly depends on the age of your child. It might be one of their goals to make you talk to yourself) What is it about that action that bothers you so much? Is it something that could be comical and give the two of you something to laugh about? Is it something that is inappropriate? This is a good time to perform a self evaluation on your attitude. The problem may be within yourself.

3. Determine who needs to be disciplined, you or your child. If you've determined that the action is a problem then deal with your child appropriately. If they are of age, you could have a conversation with them to make them aware of their actions bothering you and possibly others. Maybe even to the point of embarrassing themselves. If your child is still too young to have that conversation with, make sure you handle the situation each time it happens. Be consistent with your discipline to ensure the best results. However, if you realized that your reaction is the problem, learn to change your attitude towards those actions. Learn to laugh at your child and yourself. Put your child first and realize that the problem may have been that you were placing yourself before your child.

I learned, as a parent of a two year old, that most times I was getting annoyed, I was placing myself before my child. Those things she was doing that annoyed me were because I was busy playing angry birds or cleaning up the house instead of getting down on the floor and playing with her.

What are ways that you can prioritize your life so that your children are number one?