When I make myself step out of the day-to-day work of being a mom (consequences, refereeing, laundry, dishes, snacks, cooking, cleaning, bedroom disasters, flushing yet another toilet that I didn’t use) and just think about my kids and our day, I realize that they are pretty incredible, and they amaze me.  If I sit too long in “what I’m parenting through” it can get pretty discouraging, so let me encourage you to stop, breathe, and really think about your kids.  Each one of them.  Who are they?  What is their personality?  How does that translate as an adult?  As a spouse?  As a parent?  I think you’ll realize that they (and you) are doing just fine.  Yes, they need to put on clean underwear every day (a battle I’m facing with one of mine).  But let’s just talk about character for a moment.

Grace is tender-hearted, which is no surprise to those who have read my posts about her.  This translates into her being a good teacher (when redirected out of bossiness).  She can be so sweet when helping Ada read or spell something, or figure something out on the computer.  When one of her siblings is frustrated she is getting really good at talking them through it.  She is continuing to make great progress with her anxiety and I couldn’t be more proud of her.

Eli was described today by a friend of mine as a complete man.  He is loud and aggressive, AND he likes to play with engineering-type toys, AND he can be very sweet and sensitive, AND he likes to wear nice shirts on special occasions.  This is challenging sometimes to guide in a seven-year-old, but I’m up to the task.  Most days.  Last night when I was tucking him in he wrapped his arms around my neck and whispered, “You’re the best mom of all.”  He has so many sides to him, sometimes I don’t know who I’m going to get, but I love it.  Someday he’ll be a well-rounded man.  Like his daddy.

Ada is sick right now, but outside of the nasty wet cough you wouldn’t know it.  It hasn’t slowed her down in the least.  She’s SO tough.  Last summer on the 4th of July she was on the tire swing, got off, bent over and puked (from the stomach flu we later found out, not the tire swing), then looked at me and said, “I’m still going to the fireworks.”  She’s more stubborn than most everything – even sickness.  I joke that she’s going to rule the world someday, but I’m getting more serious about it.  I’d say the biggest thing holding her back right now is that she’s rather anti-authority.  Most days after school her report is whether or not she got mad at her teacher.  She’s in kindergarten…

Do I have this figured out.  No.  But I have the end in mind – raising these children to be adults who love God and love people, and are capable of making good choices.  Right now we’re focusing on being respectful and responsible.  Now those are some lessons that never end…

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