The minute my boys were born my mind was flooded with questions like, "How do I teach them to be responsible humans?" "How do I protect them in this crazy world?" "How do I teach them to be respectful men in a world full of disrespectful people?" "How do I teach them right from wrong" "How do I teach them the love of Christ" and so many other things. I learned that right then anyone can birth a child and call themselves a mom, but parenting/raising a child the RIGHT way is not for the faint at heart. I knew I had my work cut out for me. I knew right then I had to make a choice right then if I wanted to take the easy way of being a parent or put on my big girl panties and raise them in a way that would take blood, sweat, tears and LOTS of prayers.
10 years later, and I am still not sure I am doing any of it right. So many days I want to throw my hands in the air. So many days I want to lay in the floor and cry. So many times I question if I am the right person for this job. So many days I want to take the easy way and just sit back and let things happen. Thank God that he continues to tell my heart to keep on. To keep being the mother he created me to be.
In saying all of this, I wanted to share some things that I think make parenting hard......
*saying no! I think this is a biggie. I think it is much harder to say no than it is to say yes! I would LOVE to say yes to everything. Believe me...but that doesn't make it right. Parents..learn to say NO. It does not hurt our kids to hear the word no. One day the world is going to tell them no, and will they be able to handle it?
*Bible study with kids! I can not tell you how many times I have wanted to throw the towel in on this one! EVERY single time, we would sit down to have family bible time something would happen. Phones would ring, kids would say they are hungry, kids would say they are tired.... basically anything and everything until I would get so frustrated I would give up! Finally I decided I was going to fight on this one. I figured out a time that we wouldn't get interrupted, a time when they were not hungry or tired and guess what, it works? Are we perfect with it everyday? NO! But it is something that I feel is important so I am not going to give up!
*Teaching respect, and manners. THIS IS HARD and it takes not giving up!!! I feel like it is something that has to be a continuous thing every single day!! I literally remind my kids about their manners multiple times a day! Some days I feel like I am blue in the face. It would be much easier for me to just drop it and HOPE that they are using them, but I know that's not enough.
*Setting rules and boundaries..
Everyone has rules and boundaries that are important to them. The hardest part is following through with them. It's so much easier to just establish the rules and then just forget about it. When we establish rules we have to make sure our kids know what the rules are and make sure that they are following them. There should also be consequences set for them. Good and Bad. This has been hard for us as a family. So many times rules are set and one parent makes them follow the rules and the other doesn't. This makes it extremely tough.
I know there are many other things that make parenting hard, but in the end it is so rewarding!! I feel like when we put in the hard work we get to see the return. I love to hear people brag on my kids. It does make me feel like I am doing something right at times. I am so grateful that God chose me to be part of the hardest most rewarding job ever!
Hope everyone had a day full of blessings...
Lots of love.
No comments:
Post a Comment