Down Mulberry Lane

You're a good Mother!

In the training of our kids, I try to encourage them by letting them know when they make good choices.  My little 3yo has been caring for her sick dollies.  She dresses them warmly, wraps them up in a blanket, then places them in bed.  Checks on them several times and proclaims them well again.  I watch her and as she wraps the dollies up so carefully in their blankets, I tell her... You are a good Mommy! 

She is picking up on this encouragement.  Tonight her sister made supper and Dh and I were out making our strawberry bed in the dark (OK not so good of timing for eating, but we were visiting relatives this afternoon for a birthday dinner and didn't get home until late).  Anyways, Chelsea our 16yo makes supper.  She fixed Paige a plate and set it before her.  Paige tastes it and decides it is good and says to Chelsea... "You are a good Mother, Chelsea!"  Chelsea just beamed when she told me... she thought it was cute, but also enjoyed the compliment. 

Her other sister Megan had gotten the same compliment the day before when she played with her, stating to her that she was being like a good Mother.  

My heart smiles in that a 3yo can recognize good character traits and even compliment her sisters.  I enjoy watching her play.  Sometimes she is not so good and needs redirection, but the times when she has good play... I just smile that something good has made it inside and she is able to process it and make it her own.   

Watching your child play may seem like a waste of time... I mean you could get laundry done, or the garden planted, or something accomplished!  But there are times that watching a child play is so important.  It is so important to help them understand in their play that they are making good choices.  There are days that I love to do this.  There are days that I avoid doing it, because the chores seem so huge and mounting.  But it is an important part of mothering our kids.  Things may not get done as quickly, but they eventually do get done.  I had big plans for planting ALL the onions on Friday, but that didn't happen.  But I did get some planted and some roses as well (which my 3yo did help plant as well).  I loved it when we finished planting the roses, she surveyed the plants now in the ground and turns to me and says... "Good Job, Mom, you did a good job." 

Encouragement... it doesn't happen naturally, it has to be taught.  What a blessing to see little ones conquer the very things that we as parents may struggle with.  God continues to teach me each day, as I am teaching my own kids... my amazement never ceases as I look to these children he has blessed our family with.  No, they are not perfect.  In fact, they have been a lot of work at times, but when we are diligent to do the work we've been given... oh what a blessing to behold!   Makes it worth every minute that I had tossed aside from my own personal ambition and traded it in for Mothering. 

Warmly, ~Melissa