What I’ve learned as a
mother, with each child, has been an emancipating journey. Born again as l
learn my newborn and life through their little beady eyes, centers me and gives
me so much gratitude and love for life!
Today I’m going to share
some things that have helped me grow and appreciate my place in motherhood. No
matter what, l know I will always be from this block, but l can’t forget that
vessel l was before my body shared human life with others.
Humility:
I can think it all, but
l can’t do it all!
I carried life, gave
birth, but l am not thee Creator! Relying on God for my strength, my wisdom and
my love to give, all comes from Him!
Even when my children
are right (yup, those little brains can comprehend a lot y’all)
l have to take
accountability and apologize, to them.
Teaching them mistakes
are given at any age, and age doesn’t automatically mean correct, helps them
learn from my flaws, accept me as a growing human like them, and as a mother
they can look up to.
Patience:
A moment of silence....
because we all lose it and
could use some more of it.
When l first became a
mother at 20, “slowing down” wasn’t an issue for me because l wasn’t old
enough for “club hopping” and drinking anyway. But what l did have to learn,
was accepting someone else’s schedule and having to basically focus on
them.
Think of it as physical
or even occupational rehab. You can have goals and expectancies set for your
patient, read the best text you feel will support your patient’s progress and well-being,
but in the end, it take lots of your time, and a lot of effort to find exactly
what level to successfully work with
that person to achieve
their goals.
The first child is
always a trial-and-error experience and even when you get new tricks under your
belt, if another child comes along. You have to modify and sometimes
restart.
With my second child, he
taught me grit! My son is tender and loving, but boy he’s always up for a
challenge. He always see another way of doing something, and if you tell him
“no” he sees it as an opportunity, per say, to still work around that and
accomplish his goal.
Discipline:
Seems perfect to fall
right after patience huh?
In our home, we believe
in discipline and punishment. Off the bat, what may have worked for one child,
will not always work for the other. Discipline helps them let understand
boundaries, tolerance, and respect (for others and themselves).
The same goes for me as
a mother, l have to have discipline as well!
l have to keep my
word and mean what l say!
l have a tolerance level
that has to be understood, but flexible if need be. Respecting my use of time,
feelings, and mindful space of theirs (and others) allows me to teach them they
are contributors to this world.
Balance:
Emotions are real, they
may be expressed, but just like everything else, they have their place.
Expecting them to be perfect will strain their confidence and leave you
restless. There will be good days and bad days and sometimes that means a whole
bunch of emotions all over the place. Taking time for myself and teaching my
children early the importance of “alone time” helps me to keep grounded and
helps them learn to be independent and find peace in their own company. I allow
them to feel and express their emotions, but l teach them if it will harm them,
others or if it lingers too long, that’s when it’s not good. You can be mad,
but respectful, and so on.
I could go on forever,
but tip-toeing on what I’ve learned thus far as a mother and what l know l can
expect with my third child, puts my mommy brain at ease. Even though this is my
third time around, l still get a little worrisome at times of always being and
giving my best to my children.
Compared to what you
expected and know now, what have you learned since you’ve become a
parent?
-xo Natasha