Category Archives: Parenting

Sneak Peek #23

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Excerpt from THRIVE AND SURVIVE, ZERO TO FIVE

Twenty-one years of mothering amounts to 8,760 hours. We’re in a marathon, not a sprint, parenting one hour at a time. Once we stop straining to figure out when our running will end, we can calm down enough to enjoy (or deal with) the moment. We can manage the race like a distance runner, not bolting at top speed unnecessarily but setting a comfortable pace for the long haul. Steady perseverance will get both mom and child where they want to go.

The Bible speaks about this in Isaiah 28:10 kjv: “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.” We don’t think there’s any other place in the Bible where an instruction is double repeated like that. As a matter of fact, this advice is so important that the Lord repeats it three verses later in exactly the same way, amounting to a quadruple impact.

Isn’t this a great description of mothering? A precept is only one statement; a line smaller yet; a little bit here, a little more there. That’s what mothers are called to do, and by the time children reach adulthood, much has been written on their hearts and accomplished in their lives.

Know this from the beginning, however: even though children grow up, mothering doesn’t end. When your newborn is placed in your arms, her whole world is you. As the old proverb says, “To the world you might be one person, but to one person, you are the world.”

As you move through the days and gradually the years with that child, the relationship will change. While her life broadens, you’ll become a smaller part of her world and be only one of many influencers. Even in the distant future, though, when one day you’re on your deathbed, you’ll continue to be her mother, hopefully still taking advantage of the chance to put precept upon precept, line upon line.

 

SIDEBAR:

TEACHING TACTICS OF THE MASTER

  • Love your pupils.
  • Accept them as they are.
  • Look them in the eye.
  • Keep lessons short.
  • Be gentle.
  • Tell stories.
  • Use visual aids.
  • Pray for your students.

Sneak Peek #22

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Excerpt from THRIVE AND SURVIVE, ZERO TO FIVE

I (Mary) could tell almost from the womb that my children would be radically different from each other. Julia, my second-born, had a strong leaning toward nurturing. She gravitated toward babies while she was still a baby herself, and her first word was “be-be.” She consistently wanted to interact with babies and touch them.

On her second birthday we gave her a life-sized baby doll, and she carefully mothered her “Connie” alongside me as I mothered the baby brother who joined our family when Julia was twenty-one months. When she outgrew playing with dolls, she put her Connie on a bedroom shelf where she remained. Julia went on to babysit for all five of her younger siblings, and I counted on her to help me care for them through her own childhood years. Eventually Julia’s own daughters played with Connie, who had been carefully preserved during the twenty year interim.

Julia’s first official job during her teen years was as a summertime nanny for a pediatrician. Her nurturing ability took her through nursing school and later into full-time motherhood, foster parenting, and adoption. And it was all evident from her babyhood.

Knowing ahead of time that God wires our children in specific ways encourages us to look for what those qualities are.

SIDEBAR: MOTHERS IN THE BIBLE

  • Obedient Mary
  • Trusting Elizabeth
  • Doubtful Sarah
  • Believing Hannah
  • Deceptive Rebekah
  • Wise Lois
  • Loyal Ruth
  • Sinful Eve
  • Cunning Jezebel

Sneak Peek #21

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Excerpt from THRIVE AND SURVIVE, ZERO TO FIVE

Whenever you’re struggling with loneliness, remind yourself that your children are priceless gifts from God, and He is highly invested in your efforts as a mother. He stands ready to help meet your needs, whatever they are. All you have to do is speak to Him, tell Him what you’d like help with, and He’ll deliver it.

Once in a while He’ll even meet a need through the children who are making you feel isolated. I (Margaret) remember a time when my fourth and fifth babies were ages one and two. As I reached into the dryer to pull out clean laundry, they stuffed it back in. If I folded a shirt, they snatched it off the pile and shook it out. When I wasn’t watching, one of them would climb inside the dryer and sit on the clothes.

None of this was earth shattering, but not being able to do my work that day put me over my tipping point. Out loud, through sobs, I said, “Lord! It’s not like I’m asking to read a magazine or take a bubble bath! I’m just trying to fold laundry!”

My two-year-old sensed trouble and immediately wrapped his pudgy little arms around my leg. “Lubb-ooo,” he said in a soothing tone, looking up at me. He tried to comfort his mother the only way he knew how. It worked, and I could smile at him through my tears.

For all I knew, it was the Holy Spirit himself who spoke through little Klaus that day, because his “lubb-ooo” was so effective. God knew my need and met it well. Let God know what you want Him to do for you, and He’ll help you in some very creative ways.

SIDEBAR:

WAYS TO REDUCE STRESS IN MOMMY

  • Get up ahead of your children.
  • Ask your husband to help in one specific way.
  • Pencil in some mommy time.
  • Resist feelings of guilt for time alone.
  • Nap with your little ones.
  • Talk with another mother.
  • Hum a tune.
  • Enjoy a hearty laugh.
  • Listen to worship music.
  • Go to bed earlier.