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For the next 4 days I am doing the parenting and housekeeping by myself.  My husband is away, so I am responsible for both the Mommy & Daddy duties around the house.  It gives me a huge appreciation for single parents.

That being said I am going to make even more of an effort to help out parents who are trying to do it all by themselves.  It may be as simple as bringing the garbage can up to the house for a neighbour.  Or going out of your way to get the door for the parent by them self with the stroller and kids.  Definitely some kind words and extra patience for the parent with kids in the grocery store having a tantrum, because their little ones just don’t know how to communicate their frustrations yet.  I think every parent has been there at some point, and it is not easy!

Although I don’t do everything perfectly, and happily don’t try to.  I do try to keep the most important things in mind and to stay present and conscious to the best of my ability.  One thing I think I have done well is not take my husband for granted.  Hopefully he would agree J!  I am completely aware of all the things he does to help out, and appreciate it.  I try to say thank you as much as possible, because a lot of the things he does, he is doing for the whole family and it means a lot to me.  Being aware of all that my husband does do for us definitely makes it a little overwhelming when he is gone.

Normally in my day, I try to take a minute to myself at some point, even if that minute is while I am cooking.  For the next little while anyway that is going to have to wait until the kids go to bed, and even then there will be a lot of things to catch up on without the help.

I am so grateful for my time with my children, and not because it is always easy.  Even when it is tough they have the ability to shine a light on the areas you can grow.  Their ability to teach me is amazing.  Any areas you need to work on for personal growth are much clearer when you have children and they force you to face them.  It may be your patience that needs work, or your mental strength, or the ability to follow your instinct even in conflicting moments, especially when it comes to their wellbeing.

My children have helped me to become better at all of those things, a huge blessing!  They can also act as a mirror.  You know when their undesired behaviorsare simply a reflection of your own, something you may have never thought to work on until that moment of realization.

Being a Mom is so amazing, so hard, and so full of meaningful connections.  Parenting alone whether it is for a short while or a lot longer only amplifies all of the above, leaving the ability for growth to blossom even more rapidly.

If you have children, what is something they have taught you?
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Comments

01/28/2010 5:52pm

I hope one day I can learn amazing things from my own children, but in the meantime, I can never forget all the lessons I have learned from the kiddos I took care of as a nanny. I think children have this odd way of forcing you out of your comfort zone, and getting you to do new things... not because you want to, but because you need to, because they can't do these things themselves. They aren't jaded yet, and they don't exactly have any "filters" when they are so little, that you are often put on the spot in great unexpected ways. Kids are such little pleasures!

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Pat
01/29/2010 6:26am

Both of my sons have taught me how to be more generous. One time, walking down the street with my oldest son, there was a pretty rough looking homeless guy pan handling on the street. My son went right up to him and gave him some money. I cynically said "why do it, he is just going to use it for drugs" My son said something like maybe he will but maybe he also needs something to eat. I just looked at him and felt so much love and respect for him and tucked away that little lesson I had just been taught.

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