I will be taking a little quiet time as I revel in this new baby and even bigger family life. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy these guest posts by some really fabulous ladies. I know I’m eternally grateful they are willing to step into this space for me and open their hearts up. Enjoy!
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Reminiscing by Ellen
Motherhood.
Numerous adjectives, adverbs, verbs and nouns spring to mind when I hear that word. Most likely all the words in the dictionary could somehow funnel into that one word. Such an important word, really. So much good (even amidst trials) wrapped up in being a mother. So much to learn…
My children often like to pull out our family albums and giggle and point to when they were younger and oh how ‘awful’ and ‘dated’ everyone appeared. Certainly, photographs bring back memories. I find myself reminiscing and sometimes wishing that I could go back and start over again. How I would change things. How I would change…well…me.
Funny, how being a mother teaches you oh so many things about yourself that you couldn’t imagine possible. Funny, too, how prior to giving birth to your over-9-pound brood (3 of our 4 babes were over 9 lbs!), you so easily fell into the trap of judging other parents and vowing that ‘you would never raise your child that way…’
So if I could find a miracle of a time machine and write a letter to myself to when I was just beginning (and a reminder now), I would relay the following:
Be more patient. Exceedingly so.
Be more kind and gentle.
Be a better listener.
Try to say an encouraging word EVERY day.
Give sincere praises when a job is well done or an attitude is improved.
Pray.
Pray again.
Pray without ceasing.
Humility is learned.
Be willing to ask for forgiveness when you’ve wronged your child.
Potty training will end!
Your hair will grow back!
Let grandparents spoil your children.
Grandparents: they’re not as dumb after all!
They are sages to be sure.
Laughter is fun and needed.
Being able to laugh at yourself and the situation is of the utmost.
Encourage creativity.
Messes are OKAY!
Let a picky eater eat in peace.
(They’ll outgrow their pickiness. Eventually…maybe by age 30?)
Laundry can wait.
But teach chores when they’re young!
Smile daily.
Take lots of photographs.
Take more.
And when you think you have enough…take more.
Take as many of your littlest one as you did your firstborn.
Scrape together pennies to purchase a video camera before your 1st 4th baby is born…
Then remember to actually use it…
Hug your children several times a day.
Especially teens.
Embrace the differences in your children rather than molding them into what YOU think they ought to be.
Realize that not all babies are super cuddly and some are downright whiny…but still need lots of love.
Know that YOU will make lots and lots and lots of mistakes. Did I say lots? I meant GOBS.
Play games. Lots of games. Even if it’s the SAME game every day…
Let them lead the play time rather than the other way around.
Children don’t need every toy known to man even if the toys are wooden, natural and educational…
It’s okay to eat cereal for dinner.
It’s okay to follow that up with ice cream.
It’s good to raise your voice at times.
No yelling allowed.
Once again, model forgiveness…
Read to your children.
Read the Bible daily to your children.
Pray for and with your children.
Spend time with your children. Quality and quantity.
Try not to dwell on the past or worry about the future…
Trust the Lord in all things! He knows best.
Time and trials and joys teach you many things about who you are and who you want your children to be. And what legacy you want to leave with them so they can pass on those traits (hopefully, just the good ones!) to the next generation…
P.S. – the ‘letter’ is not finished…
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Ellen is am a homeschooling mother of 4 and wife to 1, knitter, and cooks some of the most amazing meals for her family. She blogs Hurrayic.