So many times I tell my kids to stop growing for selfish reasons. For some reason, watching my kids grow out of one stage and into another causes a bit of sadness deep in my heart. I quickly get over it and am excited for their new stage they enter but a piece of me dies with that growth. It happens with each of my kids. I know I am not the only parent who feels this way either. Chatting with my friends, I find they feel the same way. Let’s address this issue…which I must preface with…I am NOT a master at it.
You will teach them to fly, but they will not fly your flight.You will teach them to dream, but they will not dream your dream.You will teach them to live, but they will not live your life.Nevertheless, in every flight, in every life, in every dream,the print of the way you taught will always remain. – Mother Teresa of Calcutta
So I decided I need to change my mindset. I need to rejoice in their growing and embrace each stage in life. One way to do this is by giving kids responsibility and allowing them to “grow.”
I started by giving my girls more responsibility in the home with simple chores…setting the dinner table, taking the trash out, feeding the dog, making their beds, cleaning their bathroom, putting dishes in the dishwasher and emptying the dishwasher, etc. First of all, I was enjoying the help around the house (let’s face it, sometimes us mommas feel a bit like a maid). I was finding more time to relax and get some other projects done I had been wanting to start and/or finish. But the thing I noticed most was the pride my daughters were taking in their work. They beam whenever I speak about what a nice job they do and they share that with each other. It completely warms my heart.
Moral of the story…The next time your momma heart is aching as those babies are growing, embrace the now and enjoy the ride because it will be over before we know it and they will be starting a new chapter with less of us in it. I don’t know about you, but I’m all in for the here and now.
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