From toddlers to teens…raising kids today to maintain their integrity while simultaneously holding a place in their young hearts ♥️…well, it has to be one of the hardest assignments of our lives. It definitely won’t be done by accident??♀️!
It will take every ounce of intentionality, grit and prayerful passion you can muster…and then proceed to maintain??.
Perhaps some of you can relate?… picture my sweet mom and dad, 25-30 years ago… trying to reason with an impulsive teenage me…finally blurting out… “You just wait until you have children of your own”…and I can still hear these foolishly naive words flowing from my immature mouth… “Well, I’m going to let my kids do what they want, watch what they want, sleep in, have friends over anytime”… goooodnight? foolish girl ??♀️
Wow! Fast forward a quarter century and four kids later ?… help ?
What I’ve learned is the importance of surrounding yourself with virtual as well as flesh & blood mentors…people who speak wisdom into you, people with eternal vision and a proven track record.
For me, some of my best mentors were found in my “church family”, the individuals as well as the messages shared each Sunday. Recently, our message spoke to what a godly man strives to be…
-a hard worker
-a faithful man
-consistent in the “everyday”
-forgiving
-patient and persistent when it’s tough
-a man who trusts and does right even before he sees the reward
Do you know how much my mama‘s heart was “high-fiving”, as my four young men were sitting next to hubby and me, absorbing these words of wisdom ??????!
I also seek out virtual mentors, moms and dads who have successfully done what I am currently striving to do.
Great books and communicators serve as on-call advisors for my journey as well.
Their practical advice and tips have counseled me time and time again with insights like…
-How to instill a love of life into your kids through your own grateful and inquisitive mindset.
-Why your kids will respond better to you when they perceive that you care more about them than you do about the public perception.
-When things go wrong, it doesn’t matter how you interpret your own intentions… the reality you must work with is the one your teenager feels and sees.
-Why you should never, ever belittle their efforts or demean them as a person.
Sooo…there’s a glimpse for you of the kind of wisdom that keeps me from feeling like I’m sinking in the dangerous but beautiful waters of raising up young people of today?❤️?.
The voyage is tumultuous at times but well worth every ounce of intentionality you put into it??!