Today I am thinking about my week so far. I am so thankful to God for how our week is going so far. I have accomplished a couple of my goals on my list and am working on the ones that are daily. I have been more positive in my family interactions as well as in my relationships outside the home. I can only attribute it to God as I stay in His Word, the Bible, and in communication through prayer. I am also reading No More Perfect Moms by Jill Savage this month. Her book is also helping me to make changes and embrace the imperfects of life, move past them and accentuate the positive in the midst of the negative.
My 15 year old daughter started ::sigh:: Driver's Ed on Monday and takes the test to get her permit on ::bracing myself:: Friday this week. She is excited! Dad and Mom, well, let's just say we haven't decided if she 'practice' in the 15 passenger family van or the F-150 extended cab, 4x4 truck!
My 10 year old daughter started playing trumpet this school year. She was very excited to be chosen as one of the fourth graders to go to Solo and Ensemble competition this year. My 13 year old daughter plays flute (3rd year) and is going as well.
My 7 year old daughter, my 6 year old daughter and my 4 year old son were very happy on Monday evening when I took some time to look up on YouTube how to make paper airplanes (my 7 year old's science homework this week). They all had to have one-or two- airplanes to fly and I learned a new skill! It was also heart warming to watch them enjoy what we worked on together and we made memories to boot!
Do you have any proud parent moments to share? I would love to hear about them!
Thanks for stopping by! Love ya,
Susan
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A mom is at the park with her toddler and watching her toddler trying to master a new skill on the jungle gym. Can you imagine what goes on in her mind? I think it sounds like this: "Ohhh...don't fall...he is going to fall...ohhhh my...::breathe::breathe::breathe::...should I go help? Or should let him continue to try on his own?"
Another mom is observing her 15 year old freshman daughter's first high school realtionship with a new boyfriend. She is trying with all her might not to blurt out every bit of unsolicited advice and 'concern,' etc. She watches as the relationship gets too serious too fast and attempts to voice concern about it. But what 15 year old girl is really listening at this point? I mean, really, the girl is infatuated with the idea of a serious relationship with this guy! So, weeks down the road, the mom watches and listens as the relationship starts to break apart and eventually fizzles out and the daughter is experiencing her first "serious" breakup. Now the mom is resisting the urge to 'fix' her daughter's broken heart and dreams.
Can you relate to one or both of these scenarios? I sure can! In fact, these experiences are mine! I can't stand to watch my children fail and/or get hurt through the learning and growing process! These are situations where I want to protect, to guard and if need be, prevent a situation from turning bad. But reality is that my children have to grow up. The only way they can do that is if I step back (Not too far!!) and let them explore and experience life. I still struggle with the urge to keep my children from failing. And fail they will. They are not perfect. I have to allow them the grace to be human and the space to learn and grow.
If you would like more encouragement on how to resist the urges expressed in this post, might I suggest you subscribe to the No More Perfect Moms 31 Day e-mail challenge?
May God bless you in your journey as a Mom!
Love ya,
Susan
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I don't know about you, but for me, my 'Happy Ever After' isn't always so happy. Now, before I expound on this: my marriage is weathering all the storms that come our way, neither my husband or myself are perfect and we do not claim to be. In spite of those facts, we love each other and firmly believe in working through our differences ( and they do pop up after you are married--sometimes years after ) and compromise and sometimes that takes weeks to accomplish but we never quit! We really meant 'till death do us part.'
Moving on....
I don't always do things the way my husband would like, in the time frame that my husband would like or how my husband would like. I do try to accomplish what he asks me to but it isn't always easy, it takes work--hard work--when myself and my husband see things differently. My opinion isn't always the same as his. My way of doing things isn't always the same as his way of doing things. I am by nature more easy going and laid back about some things than he is. And there are times where we actually switch rolls on something. For example, he might be really getting onto everyone about getting things really, really clean around the house while I am being the laid back one for a time period. Then all of a sudden we find ourselves switching sides and he becomes laid back about the issue and I am the one all gung-ho and itching to get things done. That is real life, real marriage! It is hard work! We will have struggles, we will have differences of opinion, we will have arguments on how to parent! There was never a "if trials come your way" in the Bible. There was a "when", however, and so we know that regardless of how perfect our marriage starts out, reality will soon set in and the tests of life will happen.
If you find yourself in the place in your marriage that you need encouragement and assurance that you are not alone in the trials and struggles, I am here to tell you: You are NOT alone!
Might I suggest some resources for you?
- Weathering the Stormy Seasons of Marriage
- Hearts at Home-A wonderful resource for Moms, founded by Jill Savage
- Proverbs 31 ministries
- No More Perfect Moms by Jill Savage, releases on Feb. 1st, preview here
I hope these links have been helpful and I pray that I have encouraged you in some way! Love ya,
Susan
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In lieu of my goals in place of resolution theme for the year, here is my list of goals for this week:
- Continue Chronological Bible reading plan
- Continue reading No More Perfect Moms
- Work on laundry and get rid of items we do not need
- Clean and vaccuum the van
- Clean floors and counters daily
- Continue working on showing grace to my family and others
- Blog at least once per day (excluding Sunday)
Do you set goals for your week? I find it helps me to keep on track. Would love to hear how you make things work for you! Love ya,
Susan
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