I thought I’d share this post from a blog I follow called “Heart of my Husband“. I certainly needed to hear it!
I have a very dear friend, due to give birth to her 6th child, who has taught me nearly everything I know about parenting, childbirth, housekeeping, cooking…OK basically everything about being a wife and mother.
You know those friends that you don’t realize just how vital they are to your life until you have to leave them? Oh, I always knew she was special and important, but when she came for a visit in December and ended up being here playing mommy while I was in the hospital, I was reminded of just how amazing this person is.
So just this morning I was reminded of one of the best things she ever taught me about parenting. Well, I suppose it really began a few weeks ago.
The house was a mess and I was grouchy. After hurrying through several chores and ordering the kids around to certain messes, I told my eldest to pick up a pile of toys. He looked up at me, not in laziness or rebellion, and asked sweetly, “Mommy? Will you help me?” “No son, you made the mess so you will clean it up!” I said proudly, thinking, that will teach him to leave a mess! ha. Well, as my dear friend tried to teach me, your children become the best mirror of yourself.
Where had I gone wrong? Suddenly my kids were being rude to each other, not helping one another, and being generally grouchy. I disciplined them but they grew grouchier and whinier…it was every man for himself.
Then, last week, once again, I was telling my eldest to pick up and he again (though somewhat sadly this time) said, “Mommy? Will you help me?” I began to say my old line (which was really me being lazy and proud) and then halted in my tracks…this was the very attitude I had been seeing in my own kids. I stood silently for a moment as my son stared up at me and said, humbled, “sure son, I’d be glad to help you!” I knelt down with the baby in my arms and helped him pick up. He was overjoyed.
Today the children and I were mopping the kitchen floor by hand, each with our own spray bottles and rags, and my eldest asked his little brother to pick up a mess that he (the little one) had made. The little one set about clumsily to do what his big brother had asked and I heard my eldest say, “Here, I’d be glad to help you brother!”
Do you see attitudes in your children that you do not like? Are they lazy, rude, quarrelsome? Perhaps, mama, the best place to look is in the mirror. I can only say this because I myself am guilty of it. Take your day moment by moment and try to smile more, delight in them more, and offer a helping hand. You will reap your reward in their own little hearts and they will become your own precious mirror.
