I had a lot to learn when I became a mom.
One way I learned was by watching other moms — seeing what they did, seeing if it worked for them, trying to figure out if it would work for me.
Another way I learned was by reading books — lots and lots of books. I underlined, wrote do’s and don’ts in notebooks, and compared those notes with other moms.
I asked advice from older, wiser moms. And one day I became that older, wiser mom and younger moms were asking advice of me. And after watching all those other moms, after reading all those books, after asking all those questions, I distilled all those do’s and don’ts, all those shoulds and shouldn’t’s, down to my number 1 if-all-else-fails-do-this-mom-priority:
I want my children to know that I love them.
And loving them means I believe in them. I’ve got their backs. I’m standing on the sidelines of their lives cheering them on. I’m praying for them as they pursue their dreams. I know that God began something good in them and He will complete it. (Why do I know this? Because He says so in Philippians 1:6 NASB.)
Have I told my kiddos other things like brush your teeth … eat your vegetables … do your homework … drive safely … choose wisely … call your mother …
Yes, yes, I have.
But, what I want them to know deep down in their hearts so that they never, ever forget it is that I love them and I believe in them — even when they don’t believe in themselves. Because we all have those moments of doubt, don’t we? And what’s a mom for if not for those moments when self-doubt steps in?
In Your Words: Now it’s your turn to finish this sentence: A child needs _______________.
[Tweet “In Others’ Words: Why a Mother Needs to Believe in Her Child #inotherswords #motherhood”]
Comments 6
A child needs to know God loves them.
A mother’s love is needed (greatly!), but I see it as an extension of God’s love. He gave us mothers to be our first example of His love, I think. Sometimes it’s like looking through a cracked mirror, because mothers are human and don’t love us perfectly (only God can do that). But other times it’s almost like God is standing right by our moms saying, “This, my child, is how I love you.”
Author
I agree, Andrea, a child does need to know God loves them!!
I love your saying and believe it. I also believe children need grown-ups to sincerely listen to them, seriously believe in them, and love them unconditionally.
Author
Dee: Yes! Children need to be listened to — it’s one way we show them that we love them.
As a child, I needed a safe place, and people I could trust. Didn’t have that, do I had a .45 automatic and spent as much time as I could roaming the hills. That may explain a lot.
Author
Andrew! Welcome back, my friend! I’ve missed you joining the conversations. And yes, all children need a safe place and people they can trust. And family should be such a place … but sometimes, they are not.