Sunday, May 10, 2009

52 Blessings—Lessons Learned from Being a Mother

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(the kids teaching me to rock-climb a few years ago)

One of my greatest blessings is being a mother, consequently one great sub-blessing is the lessons I have learned from being a mother. One of the most important lessons our children have taught me is that there is always room for improvement. Kids have a way of helping you see that you need to do better.

Once when I told the kids I was going on a diet, Ty said, “It’s ok mom, you’re just a little over the average woman’s weight. You’re just closer to the average man’s weight is all.”

No one ever lets me forget that I swore at Abe. Not once, but two different times.

When I was disciplining a six-year-old Cali, she was trying to defend her actions. I explained she had broken a rule and that it was my job to be a good mom and help her follow the rules, to which she replied, “I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but you’re kinda like Satan. You always want to make me do the right things and I’m still a kid who needs to make mistakes once in awhile.”

Trying to warn Trevor and help him see things from my point a view, I described a girl in a less than charitable way. He went and told the girl. I was the girl’s leader.

And probably the one that most taught me I have much to overcome was when a four-year-old Ande gave me a big hug and said, “I know who you’re really married to. You’re Heavenly Father’s wife, aren’t you?”

What lesson have your children taught you?

14 comments:

Deidra said...

How sweet. Happy mother's day!

Barb said...

Only ever at Abe, never any of the other kids? Interesting.
My friend Beth Spackman says that her children have all the agency they want until they decide to do something they shouldn't!
Happy Mother's Day!

Carolyn said...

I can't even imagine what Abe did that you swore at him. Twice. :)

All of these are funny funny. Happy Mother's Day!

Jill said...

You always have the best stories about your kids, these are great!

Marie said...

You are so great. Never stop sharing your life with us.

The 'you're kind of like Satan' comment was funny. At least she understood that choice was important, and that the motivation behind a choice (ie force or wanting to) is important.

Julie said...

I guess I'm definitely like Satan! It's hard to want your children to do things and watch them choose otherwise. Oh boy, I don't want your kids and mine to compare notes on swearing at them.

Kathy’s Korner said...

They have taught me..."nobody's perfect!"
I was just ouching, cringing and ughing through this whole post. Those stories hit close to home. They worst was the one with Trevor, ouch!

Ande said...

Want to know the my second favorite part of that post? How you let the world know that I am your saintliest child. My first favorite part was thinking about how wonderful of a Mom you are. You are the greatest.

Amie said...

One of my greatest blessings is being a mother too.

We have all been put in our place a couple (ok, several) times... luckily it was Jimmy who was told he was acting like Satan at our house.

Lyle and Mary: said...

Kids...they have a way of making us proud and keeping us humble.

Kim Sue said...

those are great! hope you had a wonderful mother's day.

stacyj said...

Jayne,
I love your blog -- good stuff.
Thanks for reading mine. I'm tickled you think my quote is profound -- it struck me to the core too.

Kyle said...

I loved the little quip about Cali. Hilarious. Thank you for the kind comment you left on my blog a while ago and I'm sorry I couldn't say more than hi when I was home last week. You've always been one of my favorite people.

Alisa said...

Oh I can't at all think of anything my children have said. I am still laughing at all of yours. SO- fun to read this morning!