It's time to do it again. Well, for me it is.
I'm finding myself at an interesting place. My kids aren't little anymore. Well still "little," just not babies that need supervision 24/7. They don't constantly need me as much as they used to, and this allows me to have more free time...
But what am I doing with it? Am I wasting it? Do I spend it foolishly?
Am I throwing away this precious time?
Just because my children aren't constantly calling out for "Mommy" doesn't mean that they don't need me. It doesn't mean that I should be spending this time selfishly. They are still my responsibility.
Even though my oldest daughter can read Little Women (her school book) to herself, how much more wonderful to have her read it out loud to mommy?
Even though my middle daughter can sit for hours drawing illustrations for her stories, how much more wonderful to have me join her in mommy-daughter drawing time?
Even though my son is happy to play outside alone hammering nails into wood, how much more wonderful would it be for me to watch him and praise the work of his hands?
I'm trying to be a parent I can be proud of. Are you proud of your parenting? What areas are you wanting to work on?
(Linking up today with Thought Provoking Thursday)
You are speaking to my heart today! What a gift your words are. Yes, I want to be the parent my children deserve, to be a model for their future parenting.
ReplyDeletelove, love, love this post. so many times lincoln asks me to come and sit on the porch while he ....rides his rip-stick, rides his bike, hammers nails into wood- lol, etc...just to have me "near" him. this time where he wants me around is so fleeting, thank you for the reminder that i need to be present for all of it. <3
ReplyDeleteI hear, ya. I desire to find more ways to keep us a family, too! No matter how old they get. Though mine are still at the age that I need to make sure I am sitting right by the water while they swim. ;) It's fine to do things on our own at times, but still keeping connected and keeping our family of individuals a family that encourages, loves, inspires and desires to be together. :)
ReplyDeleteWhy must it be so hard to remember? I feel I am reminding myself way too often. :) When are we going to get the little guys together. Isaiah would LOVE to hang with Lincoln!
ReplyDeleteits just like you said....they get a little older, a little bigger, a little more independent...we feel a little more "free". but these time are so precious and so short lived we have to treasure them NOW! and yes, please bring isaiah over any time, and the girls for that matter...we love your sweet children :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great summation that can be applied to far more than parenthood! How do I spend my time as a friend, as a husband, as a student, as an employee? Such a great look at the sin of poor stewardship! Thank you, Heather
ReplyDeleteSo often I feel a need to be productive but you are right, personally relationships are great and something in which to invest.
ReplyDeleteI have no biological children but appreciate the effort expressed here regarding parenting. I also like the emphasis on detoxification throughout the site. Make "stuff" go away! Amen!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post, Heather! And I loved your article (and the video) on detoxing your parenting style! Even though my kids are 21 and 26 now, spending time with them is still important. We spent a lot of time reading together when they were teenagers - and that was something we all treasured. It's amazing how much the time spent together pays off in memories and in wonderful relationships at the time and when our children become adults! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great reminder! My kids are still really little but my toddler plays independently a lot. He's happy building a tower on his own but he's even happier when we do it together. It's reassuring to hear your examples of ways to continue that togetherness as he gets older (ways I never would have thought of, since they weren't part of the way I was parented).
ReplyDeleteBEAUTIFUL thoughts!! Thanks for linking this up!! (LOVE that photo, btw!)
ReplyDeleteI am being much more intentional with my 3-year-old boy now that my 7-year-old formerly homeschooled boy is in school here in England. It was always hard to give my younger one the one-on-one time that my older one got when he was little and that always weighed heavily on my heart and mind. My goal now is to DRENCH him in attention and praise, pre-schooling, hands-on life, spontaneous detours, and following his lead every now and then.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I hadn't thought about this in more than parenthood but your observation is brilliant. Gives me much to ponder.
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting Deb! I love to hear from others that have older children, it gives me such encouragement and hope. If only I could sit at your feet and pick your brain. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to parent in a different way than we were as a child. So often I find myself saying or doing the same things that I grew up hearing/seeing. It's hard but I am hoping to finish differently. Thanks for making this observation, you have given me much to think about. LOVE your website by the way. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat great goals! I need to be more intentional about drenching my kids with attention individually too. Hmmm I see some dates with mommy in the future. :)
ReplyDeleteLove this! I am working on keeping centered, calm, and joyful, and also making time for each child. I can get so run down in trying to run the house and deal with the school (IEP, special needs, etc) that it can be really easy to forget the joy.
ReplyDelete"Just because my children aren't constantly calling out for "Mommy" doesn't mean that they don't need me." Yes! I am incredibly guilty of this. I still have 2 out of 3 that are very needy (1 and 3YO), and now that my 5YO is able to play on his own, and occupy himself, dress himself, GO TO THE BATHROOM BY HIMSELF...etc, I am just so glad to not have another mouth to spoon-feed, bottom to wipe, body to hold...but he still needs me. I don't want to waste these moments away where he is asking me to play soccer with him, or check out the latest bug he's found. This is difficult. Thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteJoining you from TPT
I know what you mean Angela! Sometimes I have to literally stop what I am doing and count the gifts in order to change my attitude. Searching for Joy along with you! Thanks for your comment!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your encouragement. You are so inspiring! Your girls are so sweet and being trained up well. My son keeps asking when we can get with "those girls" again. :)
ReplyDeleteI love this post! I am where you are- my kids are doing a lot more on their own- and I am tempted to just get as much done as I can all by myself- but my #1 job is to mentor, teach, and love my kids!!! Thanks for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteBy makin ѕmall goals lіke this, you aге more likеly to achieve tҺеm, if ʏߋu were tօ
ReplyDeleteset massive goals right fгom the get go. Аn all-or-nothing angle oly sets ƴou
as much аs fail. Ɗoing this аlone wіll cause
you to consume 3500 calories ρer week and loose a pound ߋf fat
per week.
my webpage: ลดความอ้วน
Finally I succeed in their own fairness by audits of their customers with every given minute.
ReplyDeleteAnd with this problem also occurred within a month
and Yahoo are popular, but it could be carrying malware.
DeMarco said hate speech as well.
Here is my weblog ... wolfenstein the new order keygen key ()
Face worth & 2nd-hand worth is wonderful of this handset.
ReplyDeleteThis indicates that Apple will be benefiting from the vacation spending spree.
Now as a final step 3G watcher need to be installed.The system requirements to be restarted
now.
My blog post - Reis
I have read so many posts on the topic of the blogger lovers
ReplyDeletehowever this piece of writing is genuinely a pleasant post,
keep it up.
Feel free to surf to my website เครื่องรีดหลังคาเหล็ก
A motivating discussion is worth comment. I believe that you should write more on this subject, it might not be a taboo matter but usually
ReplyDeletepeople do not discuss such issues. To the next! Many thanks!!
Here is my web-site - กระเป๋าแฟชั่น
Today, I went to the beachfront with my kids. I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and
ReplyDeletesaid "You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear." She placed the shell to her ear and
screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear.
She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is entirely off topic but
I had to tell someone!
Look into my site; marketing
Nice post. I was checking continuously this blog and I am impressed!
ReplyDeleteExtremely useful info specially the last part :) I
care for such information much. I was seeking this particular
information for a very long time. Thank you and best of luck.
my page plumbing snake Tempe
I need to to thank you for this great read!!
ReplyDeleteI certainly enjoyed every little bit of it. I've got you book mqrked to check
out new stuff you post…
Feel free to visit my weeb page sexercise workouts (ecomii.com)
Have you ever thought about writing an e-book or guest authoring on other websites?
ReplyDeleteI have a blog based upon on the same ideas you discuss and would love to have you share some stories/information. I
know my readers would enjoy your work. If you are even remotely interested,
feel free to send me an e mail.
Here is my page - http://twitter.com/aidrafoxxx
I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your blogs really nice, keep it up!
ReplyDeleteI'll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back in the future.
Cheers
Visit my site: mujeres solteras
You should weigh yourself in the morning after you empty your bladder and before consuming any food
ReplyDeleteor beverages. Very an unusual side-effect associated with using hormonal realtor such a thing is
situated the principal rounded of your respective
hcg fat burning method which enable it to perhaps induce bloatedness,
pelvic as well as belly discomfort as well as a suffocating feeling.
Consequently, consider the benefits and harms the side effects of
the h - CG diet and decide if the h - CG diet plan is something you are searching for and want to have more information on it.
Therefore, as the pregnancy progresses after the 12th week of gestation, the free beta-h - CG hormone is not being produced
as often [4]. Now you can't laugh at those action-heavy decks because they have
become a great way to produce cool abilities as well as earn VPs.
As of 1976, the FDA has not approved h - CG as a safe and effective way to lose weight.
We think about our weight everyday and put forth
a new effort to think right about our bodies and food,
and exercise to get ourselves back to where "thin" is. The history from the HCG eating plan goes back for the year 1927 when some doctors discovered a
new substance that was exclusive towards the urine of a pregnant woman. It
suppresses the hunger and makes it easy for the dieter to stick to the 850-1000 calories diet program.
But it will take more than that to drag me down to
the beach and flaunt my over-sized beer-belly.
Also visit my blog hcg weight loss expectations
It's nearly impossible to find well-informed people on this topic, however, you sound like you
ReplyDeleteknow what you're talking about! Thanks
Take a look at my web blog - home remodeling
I do accept as true with all of the ideas you have introduced
ReplyDeleteon your post. They are very convincing and will certainly
work. Still, the posts are very short for newbies. May you please extend them a bit
from next time? Thank you for the post.
Here is my web site: naomi judd plastic surgery
Havіng read this I bеlieved it was extremely enlightening.
ReplyDeleteI apprecіate you taking the time and energy to ρut this content together.
I once again find mуself spending a signifiсant amount of time both
reading and commenting. But so what, it was ѕtill worth it!
My web-site - tҺis is good ()
These forms require you to have an employer identification number.
ReplyDeleteIt is important to contact an attorney with property
tax law knowledge in Minnesota including knowledge of property tax
refund, income property tax, property tax court, appeal property tax, tax property consultation,
an d more. This can eventually lead them to the courts,
which would spend them a lot more instead of just
hiring a team of financial experts, professionals who would work hard to give them the business reports,
analysis and assessments they need.
My web blog :: Boca Raton CPAt Testing center
Anyone who is interested in this plan can find numerous recipes and
ReplyDeleteresources on the Internet. Physically, because it wrecks havoc
to your body systems that have to attune different metabolic, circulatory and gastrointestinal processes in between relatively short periods of time.
Could the HCG shot be the secret to losing weight and keeping it off.
My webpage ... weight loss plans
Thanks for finally talking about > "Be A Parent You Can Be Proud Of" < Loved it!
ReplyDeleteHere is my weblog download league of angels hack
adidas nmd
ReplyDeletemichael kors handbags
nike blazer
michael kors handbags
ed hardy outlet
under armour outlet
gucci sito ufficiale
ghd flat iron
the north face outlet
the north face
miami dolphins jerseys
ReplyDeletenike blazer pas cher
hermes belt
ravens jerseys
polo ralph lauren
colts jerseys
coach outlet
saics running shoes
patriots jerseys
ralph lauren pas cher
retro jordans
ReplyDeletemichael kors handbags
air max
curry 3
pandora charms sale
chrome hearts
lacoste outlet
adidas online shop
led shoes
hogan outlet