Mommin’ is Hard

“You are young, but do not let anyone treat you as if you were not important. Be an example to show the believers how they should live. Show them with your words, with the way you live, with your love, with your faith, and with your pure life.”

1 Timothy 4:12 ICV

I love my daughter. No surprise there. 🙂 I love her to the Moon and Paris and back.

I tell her often it’s my job to raise a good human. That God calls me to parent in the way that I am helping her to become the best she can be.

It’s hard, friends.

Mommin’ is hard. Especially for a single parent. Well, seriously, just Mommin’ is hard. Period. (Or being a dad, not tryin to leave you guys out)

Oh, there are the great parts – the love, the snuggles, the fun, the excitement, and joy that my daughter brings to me could never be measured. But the raising a good human part? It’s haaard.

To be consistent. To set boundaries. To teach, and better yet to model. To discipline and put forth consequences. To show her the why and the how and the when and the what of being a good a human. It’s a lot of work!! And this past week has been so difficult.

I’ve wondered, “What am I doing wrong?” and “Am I failing??” and “Lord, help me.”

The attitude of a 10 year old can be savage.

I’m actually not here this morning to write about raising a good human though. The main picture of this blog caught my attention because actually, I am doing a good job. Not perfect, by any means, but I am raising a good human who loves Jesus and cares about others.

And I needed the reminder today!

The little girl in this picture is my friend’s daughter. She is 3 years old and absolutely adores my punkin. And my daughter is so good with her! She loves her and watches out for her and encourages her.

To see the three year old look up to and admire my 10 year old… and to know that it’s a good thing… That my daughter will do everything to help that lil princess and will treat her right and help her grow…

My heart overflows.

I am encouraged this morning. The hard work pays off. The hard work of being a good Mommy is worth it. It may not show up in every moment, or every week… there will be those hard times when it feels like it’s just not working… but it is. Every moment of love and discipline, of consistency and heartache and frustration.. God is using us, friends!

My mama friends and my dad friends… God is using us to raise the next generation. Every moment we pour into them, God is using for their good and their destiny and purpose in life.

I know it’s hard but what we are doing matters. It’s important. Our kids matter and they need us to be the constant in their life, the constant love and affection as well as the constant discipline and correction.

And when you want to cry because it’s so hard… well, go ahead. And reach out to a fellow parent friend. And vent. And pray. And take a break.

Then get right back to it because these kids need us. They don’t need us to be perfect (Thank God) but they need us to be who God is asking us to be. A good parent. One of the most important and valuable jobs we could ever have.

If you’re feeling frustrated, angry, sad, and like it’s just not working… take a step back and look at the big picture. How does your child act at school? At church? When they are around their friends? When they are around kids younger than them? Older than them? Are they helpful? Loving? Kind?

You know their absolute worst behavior is going to around you, Mama, right? Because you are their safe place, their place to get emotions out, to learn how to handle emotions, to navigate these huge feelings when they have no idea what to with them. You are the one they go to and let it all out. You are their most safe place. And that’s hard! But keep doing what you’re doing. Don’t give up.

And then look at how they act during other times. Because if your kiddo is well behaved in school, and kind to others, or nice to the outcast, or has smaller kids looking up to them and wanting to be just like them… and if your kid works hard most of the time and if they help people or see the good in others or see the beauty in the world around them…

You’re doing a great job. An amazing job.

Even when it doesn’t feel like it. Even when they don’t act like it at home with you.

So keep doing what you’re doing, sometimes through tears, and keep praying and praying and let God work. Trust God to do His part in their life.

Train a child how to live the right way.
    Then even when he is old, he will still live that way.

Proverbs 22:6 ICV

Happy FriYAY, friends!