Being a parent changes everything as I'm sure all you parents know. I want to be honest with all of you, parenting hasnt come natural to me. Oh what a surprise, right? I don't know if it comes natural to anyone but I know from the moment my precious daughter was born, parenting has been a challenge on many levels. In looking back, I can see clearly that I had PPD and I regret the time I wasted emotionally drained rather than joyful and fulfilled. As thrilled as I was to be a mother and have a quick labor and healthy baby, there was a lot going on. I'm sure many of you are aware of the feeding and weight concerns I've had with her up until more recently. She has barely made the 5th percentile for weight and getting her to eat and drink has been quite difficult! I still wouldn't call it a breeze. Then there's the colic she had for at least the first 4 months. It seemed as soon as my husband would come home, the colic session would begin. The timing was impeccable! And of course, what parent doesnt deal with toddler tantrums and figuring out a bedtime routine? I'm still working on all these things and I can't say I have it down pat yet. It can be frustrating!
I think one of the biggest struggles I've had as a parent is selflessness versus selfishness and going from being able to do what we want to having to think about the baby in everything. It's no longer all about me and it's no longer just my husband and me. We're still a team and a strong team, but our little family has expanded. We are parents! At times I think I've resented having to think of my child first and put other things on hold. There were many little plans, even just routine plans that my husband and I wanted to achieve from eating dinner in peace, to having an exercise routine, to praying and reading - and we figured we'd just put those things on hold until after the baby goes to bed. Well as with anything, there is never a 'right' time to do things. It is never going to be perfect. So, ashamedly, I have to say there were too many evenings where the other important things just didn't get done.
So now I've been thinking and figuring things out a little more clearly. As important and might I say imperative as little get-aways are either alone or with a spouse, there are many things now that have to and should be done as a little family. I'm starting to see just how important it is to include children in our family life. Little ones can learn so much by being involved in what we are doing. And it may not be easy and it may seem a nuissance at times, but it all stems from the Scriptures - 'Children are an inheritance of the Lord' and 'Let the little children come to Me'. Children are a blessing, not a bother!
Family dinner is a huge one; it can be difficult when the little ones are still eating different foods, but making a habit of eating as a family is a strong bonding experience even if they can't speak yet! It really sets the tone for mealtimes. I know mealtimes can be and have been quite frustrating because of my daughter's feeding/weight gain issues. But making mealtime pleasant and using pleasant words and conversation as a distraction has really helped her out a lot! I find that when I pressure her about eating and make mealtime all about her, it doesn't go as well.
As a mama, I kinda let myself go as far as weight and appearance. But probably the biggest excuse in the book is 'I don't have time to exercise, I'm always carrying the baby or chasing after the toddler' and I've used that one a lot too! My husband and I bought a WII system and were excited to use it, but the wii box got dusty because we kept saying we'll wait til baby goes to bed and exercise just didn't happen much. But infancy only lasts so long and carrying a baby up and down stairs and all over the house IS exercise of sorts. Now that 'baby' is a toddler, I thought about exercising for real this time. Of course then there's the concern that she'll just get under my feet and in the way. Again there's that 'burden' thinking again! Instead of seeing her as a pesky thing beneath my feet, why not just include her? Toddlers have SO much energy and she just loves to dance! It keeps her out of trouble and it keeps me in shape!
I'm sure there are other things I've missed, but I want to jump ahead to the most important matter - spiritual routine as a family. I'm really sad to say that during infancy and even recently, many times we've put off praying worshipping and reading the Bible because we thought Meadow would just interrrupt. But truly, I have to ask myself - SO WHAT? Yep, that's right. So what if it's interrupted slightly; it's so much better that we set the example in front of her, not while she's sleeping. The desire of my and my husband's hearts is to see our child(ren) come to know the Lord at an early age. So why not read the Scriptures as a family, faith comes by hearing the Word, right? It's definitely a start! And I already said that she loves to sway and dance to music, so prayer and worship with her present and even praying over her is the best thing for her spirit. It is crucial that families don't let the spiritual atmosphere of their home turn sour, the first years of a child's life are formative ones in mind and body but also spiritually too.
While I believe God works at all ages and people always change and grow - if we can let our children know by example and by including them that they are loved, accepted, wanted, and cherished as integral members of our family, then I think we can experience more joy and fulfillment in our God-given roles as parents.
I think one of the biggest struggles I've had as a parent is selflessness versus selfishness and going from being able to do what we want to having to think about the baby in everything. It's no longer all about me and it's no longer just my husband and me. We're still a team and a strong team, but our little family has expanded. We are parents! At times I think I've resented having to think of my child first and put other things on hold. There were many little plans, even just routine plans that my husband and I wanted to achieve from eating dinner in peace, to having an exercise routine, to praying and reading - and we figured we'd just put those things on hold until after the baby goes to bed. Well as with anything, there is never a 'right' time to do things. It is never going to be perfect. So, ashamedly, I have to say there were too many evenings where the other important things just didn't get done.
So now I've been thinking and figuring things out a little more clearly. As important and might I say imperative as little get-aways are either alone or with a spouse, there are many things now that have to and should be done as a little family. I'm starting to see just how important it is to include children in our family life. Little ones can learn so much by being involved in what we are doing. And it may not be easy and it may seem a nuissance at times, but it all stems from the Scriptures - 'Children are an inheritance of the Lord' and 'Let the little children come to Me'. Children are a blessing, not a bother!
Family dinner is a huge one; it can be difficult when the little ones are still eating different foods, but making a habit of eating as a family is a strong bonding experience even if they can't speak yet! It really sets the tone for mealtimes. I know mealtimes can be and have been quite frustrating because of my daughter's feeding/weight gain issues. But making mealtime pleasant and using pleasant words and conversation as a distraction has really helped her out a lot! I find that when I pressure her about eating and make mealtime all about her, it doesn't go as well.
As a mama, I kinda let myself go as far as weight and appearance. But probably the biggest excuse in the book is 'I don't have time to exercise, I'm always carrying the baby or chasing after the toddler' and I've used that one a lot too! My husband and I bought a WII system and were excited to use it, but the wii box got dusty because we kept saying we'll wait til baby goes to bed and exercise just didn't happen much. But infancy only lasts so long and carrying a baby up and down stairs and all over the house IS exercise of sorts. Now that 'baby' is a toddler, I thought about exercising for real this time. Of course then there's the concern that she'll just get under my feet and in the way. Again there's that 'burden' thinking again! Instead of seeing her as a pesky thing beneath my feet, why not just include her? Toddlers have SO much energy and she just loves to dance! It keeps her out of trouble and it keeps me in shape!
I'm sure there are other things I've missed, but I want to jump ahead to the most important matter - spiritual routine as a family. I'm really sad to say that during infancy and even recently, many times we've put off praying worshipping and reading the Bible because we thought Meadow would just interrrupt. But truly, I have to ask myself - SO WHAT? Yep, that's right. So what if it's interrupted slightly; it's so much better that we set the example in front of her, not while she's sleeping. The desire of my and my husband's hearts is to see our child(ren) come to know the Lord at an early age. So why not read the Scriptures as a family, faith comes by hearing the Word, right? It's definitely a start! And I already said that she loves to sway and dance to music, so prayer and worship with her present and even praying over her is the best thing for her spirit. It is crucial that families don't let the spiritual atmosphere of their home turn sour, the first years of a child's life are formative ones in mind and body but also spiritually too.
While I believe God works at all ages and people always change and grow - if we can let our children know by example and by including them that they are loved, accepted, wanted, and cherished as integral members of our family, then I think we can experience more joy and fulfillment in our God-given roles as parents.
You are a great mother! Children are a blessing, not a nuisance 
