LoveWorksStill

CALLING ALL MY PARENTS:  Sometimes, I wonder if I am doing a good job!  People can tell me all day that my parenting skills or attention to the needs of my children are exceptional, but what matters to me more is what my children think.  More times than I can count, their responses are dawdled and unappreciated.  Their capricious demeanors can also shift the whole mood of the house if my husband and I are not planning ahead!

I am often reminded, through my children’s most random actions, that who I am matters to them.  Let me give you an example. My son was all over the place one day while his daddy was on a serving assignment.  He was moving from the front to the back.  His toddler-size 10-feet were jumping up and down as the music played.   Then all of a sudden when the environment calmed down, he asked me to pick him up.  Let me pause to say, he is too heavy to stand and hold anymore.  I told him no of course.  However, when I sat down, I let him sit in my lap as I rubbed his back.  Side bar: He has a tendency to be very loving.  His hugs are the BEST!

I was so caught in laughter from listening during the event that I overlooked what my son was doing.  This child of mine seems to soothe himself when someone calm actually holds him.  When he is away from us, my husband and I can call him and mouth exactly what he will most likely say next; “Can you come pick me up?”  To me, these are code words for, “I want my mommy so I can go to sleep”.  Night time cuddles with Mommy are the best!  

At the event that day, my son expressed indirectly a need he had.  I, unknowingly, met it by just being there to hold his heavy body as he went to sleep.  It made my heart smile even if he did slobber all over my shirt.  Would much rather be embarrassed from a slobber stain than from a child constantly not listening to my instructions while I try to maintain an amplomed stance on my authority!  The lack of confidence due to the rebellion is what started the whole idea of not being the best parent I have thought many times that I should be! Can you relate?

Have you ever felt like you are not the best parent?  Maybe you have compared yourself to another parent where his or her great qualities overshadowed your value of yourself?  I have made that blunder before.  It caused me to miss what I was doing right!  Self-reflection is great, but not when you are comparing on missing information.  

By homeschooling, I have more time to understand my children, but I also have areas where I feel like I could continue to work on being present for them.   CALLING ALL MY PARENTS to remember to give yourself grace.  Sit calmly, with an affable spirit, and breathe for a little while.  Then, before you know it, your children will give you a sign that you are doing just fine!  

Celebrate the victories!  Each one counts towards your child’s future.

Until next time, #loveworkswhenourwordsdont! 💚

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