21 years

Three days ago I celebrated 21 years of being a mommy. Yes, it was Maegan's birthday and my celebration was more private and quiet and I am still reflecting and celebrating... 21 years of being a mom. I started out on the journey at the young age of 20. I was aso excited about becoming a mom and having a child that would eventually call my "mommy" and talk to me and look like me, and, prayerfully, not act just like me. I was young and immature and ignorant and didn't quite "embrace" motherhood like I do now. I graduated from college 11 days before Maegan was born and was seriously planning on going to graduate school and getting a masters or possibly a doctorate eventually. I can't even imagine what I was thinking! Yes, my life changed completely on that day. I didn't "give up" my dreams or aspirations. I don't feel that I can even think of it in those terms. I gained so much! I became a better person and things in my life shifted into right perspective. All of the sudden I was not the primary consideration for all the decisions in my life. There was another being in the forefront of every decision and every view of my present of my future. It was a beautiful thing!
I love being a mom. Maegan was an exceptional child (and still is.) She began talking to me before she turned two and was always ready to go out and tackle the day and work on my never-ending lists. She is beautiful and stubborn and strong-willed and talkative and fun. She was my first and I definitely made mistakes with her... but I have always loved her. I just wasn't as mature as I am now, but I was more impulsive and silly and fun. So, I guess it kind of balances out. There has never been a lack of love for her, just maybe a lack of direction on my part.
So... as I celebrate 21 years of being a mom... I want to say Thank you, Maegan for being mine and for loving me and talking to me and being all that I envisioned and more. Now... what are we going to do today?

Not all the same

We are a relatively healthy group over here in the big blue house, but occasionally those relentless bugs do infilterate and cause some problems. The past day has been one of those instances. YUCK! Four down yesterday, two down during the night, and not yet sure what today will hold for us. It is short lived, but gruelilng. Last night though I was thinking about each one of my ten children and their individual bents and needs. Same bug and all different responses. Some are quiet about it and suffer in silence and try to persevere and maintain an appearance of normalcy. Some cry and beg for medicine or relief. Some just go to bed and sleep it off. And I have one who can argue and boss you around while his head is hanging over the toilet. It affects everyone differently. You can't treat them all the same or address their needs all the same because their needs are different. So I do what I can and try to love them and have compassion and help them deal with this nasty inconvenience. If you know me you know that "coddling" is not one of my strengths. I'm more of it "get over it and move forward" person, but I am trying to do better.
Anyone, looking forward to a day of tea parties and blessings to lots of little girls today. Now, I better get busy baking.

I raised them all the same

I have ten children and have been a mom for almost 21 years. It is a very large part of who I am and it is a role that I take very seriously. I read books, I study, and I devote the majority of my time each day to being a mom. The past couple of days I have been thinking. (Okay.... I have actually been thinking longer than that, but you know what I mean.)
I heard someone a few days ago say, "I don't know why my kids turned out so different. I raised them all the same." I've heard it said many times, but for some reason, this time it made me think and ponder. You can't raise them all the same. My oldest daughter has a totally different temperment and perspective from my other girls. And, quite honestly, I am a different mom than I was 20 years ago. Then I was young and we moved every couple of years and I wasn't near as secure as a mom. There are just WAY too many factors in the equation to make the claim that "they were all raised the same." I can share the SAME information with all my children and use the same tone of voice and the same words, but they will have different interpretations or peceptions for the same experience. Personal timing (what is going on with them personally), temperment, and maturity must be considered. My six year old son requires quick and firm correction; my eight year old needs gentle reproof. They are all in need of training, but, unfortunately, there is not one formula that works with every child. Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it."The verse says to train a child in his or her "bent" or "the way he or she should go." I endeavor to train up each individual child with his or her individual gifts, talents, temperment, etc. taken into consideration. I have to prayerfully depend on the Lord for direction on the way to train each one of my children. They don't all receive and interpret the same way I do. They don't all have the same love language I have. They don't all have the same temperment I have (thank goodness!).
And I have to do that 10 times.... it's a huge job. It's more than a full time job; it's bigger than a profession. It's a lifestyle - and I can't think of a better way to invest my time and energy.
I have more to say on this as I am still pondering it.

Wow!

Well, I thought it would be a great idea to start blogging... So, I got online and looked it up and set up an account. I was a little bummed when someone already had my name. Who would do such a thing? It's not like it's anyone else's name. So, I set up an alternate account and posted something short. And then I decided to look and see who was blogging under my name. It was me... in February 2009. Surprise! Sometimes, I amaze myself.
Honestly, I am not usually forgetful like that. It was a great idea then and I wish I had followed through and continued blogging. I journal, but I have been sensing a stronger "draw" to write more. I have always dreamed of publishing a book and I know that I need to write on a regular basis.... So, this is just a beginning. I don't think I'll get to blog really regular to start out, but I hope to do more soon. (I have plans and hope for more structure and routine in my life.)
And, I am not the mom to nine... I am the mom to ten: six girls and four boys.