Debbie asked me to talk for a couple of minutes on parenting. I am the parent of 4 kids, Ella (6), Lincoln (4), Logan (3), and Landon (11 months).
As a parent, there are so many things I wish to teach my kids, but sometimes at the end of the day, I'm satisfied if the kids were dressed, we ate 3 meals, and maybe we read a book together. We have a tradition of playing "best and worst" at the dinner table. We go around the table and each person shares the best thing that happened to them that day and the worst thing. You know it has been a good day when none of them can think of a worst thing that day. Or maybe it just shows how bad their memories are.
We have definitely had hard times as a family, but we have had so many good times. I keep a blog and have documented lots of silly things my kids have done, like when Lincoln yelled out "faster, woman, faster" as we were driving down the road...or how when I told Logan I was tired he said I didn't need a nap because my "eyes were turned on." Unfortunately that day I was unable to find the off switch.
So many great moments are documented and I love looking back through my posts. There was one post I never published as it was a little close to my heart that I would like to share. It was a post I did one night as I pondered being a mom and why I was even doing a blog, especially during a time in my life that has been especially painful...figuring out how to be a single mom. Several months ago, I wrote this:
The real reason is that I want my kids to be able to look back at this time and see how we were during this time of our lives. We cried...a lot...and we were sad...a lot...but we also were very happy. We loved each other more, held each other tighter, and prayed more often. We kept on doing all the things we should be doing to help us through this, like prayers, scriptures, being nice, sticking together. I want them to know I loved them. I never stopped loving them. I didn't turn my back on them. It's okay to have problems and trials and hard times, and they will have more, but what is important is what are they going to do about it. Don't run away, don't ignore, don't pretend its not happening. Face it, deal with it, and then live your happy life. That is what I want them to know...and hopefully by the time they read this, I will have convinced myself.
I love my kids and I love being a parent. I thank my Heavenly Father every night for them. Thank you for letting me share.
***I will be updating pictures and fun things soon...promise***
