Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17
I believe in evolution. No, I’m not talking about the evolution of our galaxy and planet earth. I’m a creation girl all the way. To me, true, undefiled evolution is parenting at its finest. It’s incredible how my mom-skills have changed over the past twenty-two years. Today I barely resemble the mom I was my first day on the job in 1991.
Whenever my college-girl comes home to visit, she wants to watch old home videos. “Mom, let’s make some popcorn and watch a few home movies, whaddya say?” What mother is going to say no to her grown up child when she wants to peruse down memory lane?
Like a family time-machine, we are transported to fifteen or more years ago, to a home where our four children were much smaller, and much more of a handful. The scene opens to our family room, green threadbare couch, sparse décor, and four busy children from one to ten years old entertaining the camera with their individual circus acts.
While our now much older kids watched the home movies and laughed at their antics over how they used to interact with one another, I was as mesmerized as they were. When did I ever have that kind of energy? Sweatpants, no makeup and hair pulled up in a ponytail—my daily mommy uniform. I watched a much younger-me hold my youngest and could almost smell the baby spit up.
What made me sad was listening to my voice in the background. Like some Nazi-movie director, “Meghan, stop that. David, don’t poke your brother. Grace, sit still.” But, my most un-favorite phrase I heard myself shout over and over again
“I said look at me! Now, smile!”
Goodness, what child is going to want to smile after being nitpicked to death? I wonder if this is the natural progression into grandparenthood. Those small things like wearing rubber boots to bed, or leaving a few rogue peas on a dinner plate, all of a sudden aren’t a hill to die on anymore.
The truth is, moms evolve. Great kids and even not-so-great kids with much love and grace poured into them over the years grow up to be great adults–all the while us parents learn to stumble and grow alongside our kids in great ways.
Sure, we know those families who seem to have those perfect kids. You know the ones I’m talking about. Their child is student of the week all fifty-two weeks of the year. Their car has the bumper stickers to prove it. When I look back at old videos I see the antics of children being what God created them to be—children. I watch the videos mesmerized at their tiny voices arguing over toys or fighting over who gets to sit by who and I found myself thinking, I have some pretty great kids.
My children have grown up to be pretty amazing people. I don’t remember back on their childhood and wish they were different; it’s me who wants a do-over. I’d make sure to let them make faces in the camera more and work their own problems out more, I would laugh more at our imperfect life and be happier in the tiny moments like when my children would be in their car seats and break out in a Broadway tune of made up words. Or, when my son asked for the billionth time to go out in the rain because worms come out then, I’d let him every time.
Yeah, motherhood is true evolution. The final result? A mom who no longer strives for perfect kids or a perfect life, but gives much love and even more grace to her family and herself. When God finishes up with us and we are honored with the crowning achievement of motherhood, rumor has it we become a grandma.
Hang in there mom. You’re doing a much better job than you think. Enjoy this wild, exhausting, awkward, bumpy ride. You won’t be the same when it’s over—and that’s a good thing.
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REGISTER NOW for the
2014 M.O.M. Conference ~ BETTER TOGETHER
July 31st – August 2nd,
Jacksonville, Florida at Trinity Baptist Church
Registration Information, Location, List of Breakout Sessions, Descriptions of Workshops, Conference Speaking Team, Better Together Conference Flyer, Better Together Bulletin Insert (Full Color), Better Together Bulletin Insert (Black & White), Better Together Conference Cards (Postcard Size)
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