Saturday, May 9, 2015

The Gift of a Mom

           This Mother’s Day weekend, I just have to declare in writing what we’re all thinking: moms are sweet drops of sunshine in a broken world! I am surrounded by moms in all areas of life, and I’m honored to be in a position to glean wisdom from your motherhood adventures. Thank you for sharing these lessons learned.


Mothers get messy!

Thirty seconds into feeding Eoin, I get a nice grunt and a warm feeling on my leg. Yeah, he pooped out of the diaper and through a sleeper and a onesie onto the leg of my pants. - Cara Cahill, mom of Eoin 

Once poo habits get a bit more structured, the responsibilities and privileges only grow. ;)
 

Mothers Educate

Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.
Proverbs 1:8-9

Help them grow spiritually. Just like brushing your teeth before bedtime was not an option, neither was going to church! - Susan Walsh, mom of Jason

READ! Read to your kids often, and not just baby books. Read classics that are appropriate, read recipes out loud, buy good quality books! - Melony Gray, mom of Frasher, Cason, Naomi & Evan

From the time they are infants, take them to church. We told our boys that their ministry was to be at church so that there would at least be 2 other youth present if a visiting youth came. - Debbie Clem, mom of Ben & Tyler

Help kids realize how their actions, positive and negative, affect others. Since they lack real world experience, kids often don't realize how much they can do. - Amy Misenheimer, mom of Ada & Cole

 
Mothers Discipline

Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.
Proverbs 29:17

Being a mom takes a balancing act between love and discipline.  You have to love your kids to the point that they know without a doubt you are on their team, behind them and accept them for who they are.  At the same time you have to be their guide and teacher.  God has entrusted you with their lives, their hearts and helping them to navigate life.  You have to be firm, fair and consistent in discipline.  You cannot always be their friend because you have to be their parent first and foremost. - Amy Harvey, mom of Camden & MacKenna

Teach your children manners and respect for others from day 1! Do not wait. It is pure joy to see and hear the respect they have for people when they interact with them. But this MUST start when they are very young.  – Debbie Clem

Be the parent, not a best buddy. I always told Jason - "I'll be your friend and your pal, but first and foremost, I'm your Mother." – Susan Walsh

 
Mothers Love

Tell them you love them often—with words and actions. - Debbie Clem

Have fun!!! Sometimes you have to crash the routine, throw caution to the wind, and get crazy! Eat dinner with no utensils, make a random park trip on a school night, let the kids shop for and cook dinner. I have a hard time with this one because I know it's usually easier to stick with our routine but life is too short to do the same thing every day and I want to make sure the kids realize that life shouldn't be lived on repeat. The laundry can wait. The TV show will be on again. The work will be there when you get back to it. Right now only happens right now. Make it count! - Amy Misenheimer

BE INVOLVED in your child's life. They grow up so fast and each milestone is so special. – Susan Walsh

Take the time to truly get to know your children, the good, bad and the ugly, it will be SO worth your time.  But the most most most important thing you can share with them is the love of God and to make time to have a relationship with him.  It will be the best gift or lesson you will ever give your children. - Diana Knipp, mom of Brittany, Alex, Courtney

An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels…
She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Proverbs 31:10, 27-30
 
 
 

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