It is time for our monthly Letters to Our Children post. It’s a small circle this month but well worth the read anyway. Follow the circle over to Laurie’s blog to see her amazing photos and sweet words to her children.
Dear Abby, Mckenzie, & Cooper,
The definition of a mother according to the Merriam Webster Dictionary is this : a woman in relation to a child or children to whom she has given birth. While that is a good definition, I believe there is so much more to being a mother and since May is the month we celebrate moms, I thought I would share with you what it is I believe my role is as your mother.
1. I promise to love you with my whole heart. I honestly don’t think this one needs an explanation, but, I will clarify anyway 🙂 I will love you if when you misbehave and make mistakes and fail at something. Those are the times I will be there for you with tenderness and understanding and forgiveness so we can all learn and grow from the experience. I will love you when you succeed and follow the rules. For those times, I promise to share in your joy and encourage you to continue with your dreams. It doesn’t matter what you do. I will always love you unconditionally. 🙂
2. I promise to keep you safe. Whatever the danger is, it is my responsibility to keep you unharmed. This means I will remind you time after time that you need to look both ways before crossing the street so you don’t get run over by a car. I will teach you the skills that you need to stay safe and I will protect you from any danger that comes to you. I would give my life if it meant saving you.
3. I promise to make sacrifices for you. My role as your mother is to make sure all of your needs are met. Both physical and emotional. So that means putting your needs ahead of mine. I don’t get to sleep until noon every day (or through the night for that matter) or put off grocery shopping because I just don’t feel like it. You need a mom who is willing to be there for you every day of your life. Yes, I do need time for myself, but I find ways to do that without compromising your needs.
4. I promise to spend time with you. Whether you want to play one more game of UNO or just hang out next to me, I will be there for you. As one of three children, that time may be more difficult to come by, but I promise each and everyone of you will get quality time with me. This does not mean we will go on big adventures all the time because I personally believe that the only thing you need for quality time is both (or all) people to be engaged. So reading a book together or playing games or listening to your dreams and wishes and concerns and problems are things that I promise to do with you.
5. I promise to teach you what you need to become a successful adult. I will teach you about responsibility and accountability and the Golden Rule (Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, (in case you needed a reminder)). I will teach you about love and compassion and God and how to wash a load of laundry or change a flat tire. (okay, maybe we will ask your Dad for help on that one. I’ve never had to change a tire before so I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be a very good teacher. But you get the point.) I also need you to know that while my world revolves around you, the rest of the world doesn’t. There will be hurt feelings and disappointments and failures and I will be there to help you through those times and to provide you with the skills you need in order to deal with them on your own. There are so many things that you need to learn, and it is my responsibility to teach you.
6. I promise to provide you with discipline. I know this one doesn’t sound as exciting as all the others, but if I fail to teach you about consequences, I am failing you miserably as your parent. Providing you with discipline will help shape you as a person and set the stage for a strong moral compass. My job it to teach you self discipline so you will be able to manage your time and money and social affairs with ease. When I was a kid, I hated getting in trouble and getting disciplined. But today, I am thankful my parents loved me enough to provide me with a moral compass.
I promise you all these things that you may grow up to be wise, loving, responsible adults. That your life may be better than my own. I have made mistakes in my parenting and I am sure I will make more before this journey is done. But, I will never stop striving to be the best mother I can be so that you can be the best person you can be.
I love you to Pluto and back!
Mama
Leave a Reply