Parenting: Touching the Hearts of Our Youth

{Firsts}

My one and only recently had her first birthday party. It was great. There was cake, swimming, crying, and all the wonderful cliches that go along when you are celebrating a first birthday. My previous experiences with birthday parties was limited to my own, which meant that birthdays were fun, included good food, and lots of presents. I was surprised at what a different experience the celebration was from a mother's point of view.

First of all--there we a lot of tears the week before the actual birthday. Not from Hannah, but from me. It was a time of reflection. I thought about everything I'd learned, how far she had come, all the happiest memories, and most importantly--how very blessed I am to have her as my daughter. I found myself a little sad, knowing that I could never go back and capture each moment all over again.

I began to think that there were so many "firsts" that had been so exciting and wonderful to experience. Her first laugh, her first solid foods, her first steps...all wonderful monumental moments in time. I started feeling the reality of how fleeting those precious moments are, and felt a little sad. I thought to myself "there are not many firsts left to experience." Quickly after this foolish thought I corrected myself. I started thinking of all the "Firsts" I was going to experience: The first book she reads, her first day of school, her first kiss...I realized that we live in an ever evolving state. I have experienced firsts just as recently as Hannah had.

I realized that without firsts, we are stuck. We are constantly experiencing the world renewed, that is how we are educated, that is how we are defined.

I'm grateful to be able to have wonderful memories of the firsts Hannah has already experienced. I'm looking forward for many more firsts.

What "First" have you recently experienced? What is your favorite "First" of your children? (My personal favorite first was when she laughed for the first time. I've never had another moment in my life to compare to the first time when Hannah showed outward joy).

Priorities...priorities.

I love to read, and I love to "blog stalk" a (very) few authors when time permits. One of those authors is one of my favorites--Shannon Hale. She is the author of The Goose Girl, Austenland, Book of a Thousand Days, Princess Academy (among my favorites) and more. I was reading a Q&A session with her and this is what she said:

"Do you get stressed out frequently with being a mom, a wife, and an author?"

Yes. All the time. I don't know how to do it all so I don't. I'd rather fail as a writer than as a wife and mother. I'm most definitely failing as a housekeeper and gardener. My ship has sailed as a scrapbooker/seamstress/baker.

I love it. Spencer W. Kimball said "No success can compensate for failure in the home." I consider Shannon (may I call you Shannon? Oh yes Melissa, please do! I know you've read all my books and I consider us friends...) a successful author, very professional--but she understands priorities.

So I hope you can say I'd rather fail as a _______ (fill in the blank with your wildest dreams) than as a wife and mother. I'm most definitely failing as____... be honest with yourself. Don't stretch yourself so thin that you cannot meet the needs of your family!

For more on Shannon Hale click HERE and go check out her books--you won't be disappointed!

Worrying

This picture came from Message with a Bottle which I find quite hilarious.

I am a worrier. I always have been. This trait of mine has been elevated with the status of parent. There are so many things to worry about, physical, emotional, spiritual safety I know I can't protect against everything, nor would I want to, I know experience will help my little one to develop and grow--but it doesn't mean it isn't hard watching her go through difficult things.

Someone I admire very much said that she often fears for her children, but you cannot live with fear. She has to replace fear with faith. Faith that God is watching out for your children beyond what you can do, faith in your love, that you can protect them as far as you are able. We cannot live with fear--replace it with faith.

I've quoted Miss Molly multiple times and I will again "I am a worrier, but I am also a warrior."

How do you extinguish the fear you have and replace it with faith? How do you live with the day to day worry?