Motherhood - The Toughest Job You'll Ever Love
I remember it like it was yesterday. I had this sweet, little, blonde-haired, blue-eyed treasure. I had just put her down to bed and I promptly called my mom.
“Mom!!! “ I cried into the phone. “Help me!!! I don’t know what to do with this little one.” She politely laughed and said, “Don’t worry, babe. She will be fine and so will you.” Wise words from a very wise woman.
Now, believe me. I didn’t always think my mom was wise. When I was a teenager, I was completely sure that she was not wise at all. LOL Little did I know, but my mom knew it all.
Motherhood is like that. It’s the job that once you have it figured out, the little one changes and now you feel like you don’t know what you’re doing at all. Can anyone relate?
Even after parenting for over four years, when our second daughter arrived, I still didn't have it all figured out, but I had learned a few things.
So, in my 20 some years as a mom, here are a few of those things that I learned:
They Don’t Come with a Manual
Nope! They sure don’t! Being a mom is the most "On the Job" training I’ve ever done. Every day is a new journey. And every season brings new journeys. Many of which you will have no idea what you are doing, but somehow you figure it out and it all does get better. I didn’t say easy, but definitely better.
2. Memorize this Phrase – This Too Shall Pass
I remember going to a MOPS group – you know Mothers of Preschoolers. My oldest daughter was very young and I was trying hard to figure out this motherhood thing. I remember thinking, “Gosh, something is definitely wrong with my girl.” She didn’t want to nap and she was only just 2. She had strong opinions and a strong will as a 3 year old. Something was either wrong with her or me, I just wasn’t sure which.
And then, as I went to MOPS and talked with other moms, I realized this: She’s normal. What? All little kids do these things? Yep! Most do. It was a huge euphony for me. It was then that a wise friend at MOPS told me, “This too shall pass.”
And, you know what? She was right. That strong willed, little, 3 year old just graduated college and she turned out pretty well. As did her sister, who graduates from high school in just 21 days! Time passed and passed quickly. Treasure the moments, even the tough ones.
3. Give Yourself Room to Grow
Refer to 1. We, as new parents or even seasoned parents, often just don’t know what we are doing. SSSHhhh - never let on. LOL But, seriously, I often told our oldest daughter, “I’m sorry. I’ve never been a parent before you, so I am figuring it out too.” I'm sure she didn't like that much, but it's just so true.
Give yourself room to make mistakes. Understand that you don’t have to be a "perfect" parent, just be a parent. Be a parent. Kids need parents to hold them accountable. The rest will come along the way.
And – don’t be afraid to make mistakes. We all do and we learn from them. Yes, us and our kids.
Oh – and super important. Be willing to say , "I’m sorry". These two, small, powerful words will speak volumes to your child about how much you love and treasure them. Use them often.
So, moms or future moms, Happy Mother's Day! You are a treasure. Remember, God chose a woman to bring the Savior of the world to Earth. So, don't ever, ever forget, you are truly special.
Some food for thought ~
Mother is the name for
God in the lips and hearts of little children. –
By William Makepeace Thackeray
XO - Nikki
#chappylife
Proverbs 31:28
"Her children arise and call her blessed"
