I Just May Be Doing Something Right.....

Sometimes I feel like I am failing miserably at this whole "mother" thing. There are lots of times that I would like a do-over. I believe that being a mother is one of the hardest things in life. I mean look at all the messed up people around you who blame all their problems on their childhood...maybe their mother was too overbearing, too critical, too wrapped up in themselves, too worried about what others thought, too abusive, too uncaring, too negative, etc. etc. etc. It is hard to find the right balance to guide and nurture your children into becoming compassionate, productive, spiritual, confident people. I struggle with it EVERYDAY!!! I want my kids to think back and remember me as someone who loved them more than anyone else in this world, someone they trust with their life, someone who was their biggest fan, someone who they wanted to spend time with and be with, someone who didn't fix their problems-but gave them the tools to fix it themselves. I want them to think back and remember their childhood as happy, fun, loving.

Today, while going through Averi and Cali's backpacks, taking out all of their school stuff I found an autobiography assignment that Averi did. One of the topics she had to write about was the best advice she ever got. This is what she wrote:

"The best advice I've ever received was from my mom, she told me to 'Never Give Up.' I've always been into drawing, but time after time I would get frustrated. I thought I wasn't good enough. But she told me not to give up. To keep trying. I practiced and practiced. Everyday I strived to be better. And I did. Now I'm in AP Art and plan on taking art classes this summer. I won second place in the art show, and was chosen to have my art on the art show flyer. I was in the All-City art show, and in the May Fair. I didn't give up, and I never will. A little advice can go a long way. A little advice is something I now live on."

Wow! I just may be doing something right. You don't get many accolades being a mom. You don't get a yearly assessment or evaluation that tells you how you are doing or that commends you for the things you are doing right. But when you do find things like this. Or you hear things like, "You were my most favorite teacher ever!" from Cali. Or you get a thank you for something...it just, it just makes you feel validated!!! So, today I feel like I'm a good mom and that I am doing it right.

FYI-This picture was taking at Averi's school art show where she won second place. All of the drawings on the board are her's. Isn't she talented????

A Parable of Motherhood-by Temple Bailey

The young mother set her foot on the path of life. "Is the way long?" she asked. And her guide said, "yes, and the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning."

But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children, and gathered flowers for them, and life was good. And the young mother cried, "Nothing will ever be lovelier than this."

Then night came, and storm, and the path was dark, and the children shook with fear and cold; and the mother covered them with her mantle, and the children said, "Oh, Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come." And the mother said, "This is better than the brightness of day, for I have taught my children courage."

And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, but at all times she said to the children, "A little patience and we will be there."

So the children climbed, and when they reached the top, they said, "We could not have done it without you, Mother." And the mother, when she lay down that night, looked up to the stars and said, "This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned fortitude in the face of hardness. Yesterday, I gave them courage; today I have given them strength."

And the next day came strange clouds which darkened the earth-clouds of war and hate and evil, and the children groped and stumbled, and the mother said, "Look up, lift your eyes to the Light," and the children looked and saw above the clouds an Everlasting Glory, and it guided them and brought them beyond the darkness. And that night the mother said, "This is the best day of all, for I have shown my children God."

And the days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years. And the mother grew old, and she was little and bent. But her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage. And when the way was rough, they lifted her, for she was light as a feather; and at last they came to a hill, and beyond the hill they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide.

And the mother said, "I have reached the end of my journey; and now I know that the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone, and their children after them." And the children said, "You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates."

And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said, "We cannot see her, but she is with is still. A mother like ours is more than a memory; she is a living presence."