April 18, 2007
SWIMMING ON DRY LAND
It’s easy to walk on water around here. Just wait till the lake freezes over then botta bing botta boom – trot right across. Swimming on dry land however is much more difficult. If you are parenting a teen you know just what I’m talking about. We had an enchanting variety of personalities among our four children that kept me on my knees and searching for solutions. Just communicating with our teens I would get caught in the eddy of diverse range of responses. From extremely detailed & lengthy to a mere reverberation emanating from the throat area. All of which left my self esteem frazzled. Waiting until night went way past fall when Coach Wonderful was available with his wise and comforting counsel wasn’t always possible. There are times a Mom feels she’s alone in a battle zone. That’s with the kids that don’t have any unhealthy problems. Honestly, it takes nerves of steel just to be neurotic!
I gathered a few pearls along the way. I share in hopes that it can help a young Mom stop and take a deep breath and know she is God’s daughter. He is so proud of you and the way you keep seeking His way to raise your children. He doesn’t add up your perceived mistakes – He measures your heart.
A pearl to string: "Don't limit a child to your own learning, for he was born in another time." --Rabbinic saying
Never argue with your children. Your arguing means they win.
Always stay calm when talking with your children to teach your children to cope with problems. Anyone can teach your children anger, whining, blaming, and damning. Let someone else model the wrong way for your children to respond to adversity.
Give your children equal doses of love and discipline: not just one or the other. If you got too much or too little of one or the other--do not then blindly do either the same or the opposite as most parents wind up doing. Instead, do both equally well.
And my find of the century quote that I think is my favorite: (This is a wow! Turn wow upside down – now that’s a MOM) "The Christian mother must turn a deaf ear to the babble of voices vying for her attention and listen to God. It is in Scripture that she will find the only safe and reliable information about how to fulfill her calling as a wife and mother". Barbara Bush
As Coach Wonderful says, if you are going to swim on dry land you need a boat with wheels… You need Jesus. "I am the way and the truth and the life”. John 14:6
Stay in His immeasurable love,
Lyndi
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