Parenting 101

Last night, I had one of those fabulous moments with my boys, where they decided they needed a group hug with Mom. Those are truly fabulous moments, but one must understand that my boys are bigger than me these days; so, I have to brace myself for the onslaught to prevent injury. But ... they are my greatest moments, because they are full of laughter and joy, and, when they happen, my mind races back to when they were just little buggers bouncing around the house all full of fun and games ..... I miss those moments sometimes, but I am loving seeing the young men Malcolm and Mackenzie are becoming. I'd like to think I have more to do with that than I actually do, knowing that God has those reins, but I often gauge my parenting skills through their words and actions. I thought a lot about that today ....... how am I doing as a Mom?

I'm doing ok, I think .... keeping my head enough above the water to keep from drowning out right; but, I know I'm flailing a lot of the time ..... it's like that with kids. No handbook or directions, which calls for a ton a prayer because everyday brings a different question or concern. I'm doing the best I know to do, praying I'm not screwing them up too badly, doing permanent damage that will lead to years of therapy ..... but ..... one thing that is solid truth that will never change is ..... I AM HERE FOR THEM!!!! And, hey ..... if my kids are going to get screwed up .... it will be by their Mom who loves them unconditionally and eternally!!!! It will NOT be by some SACC instructor, YMCA leader, Daycare Provider or babysitter!!!

God gave these wonderful boys to ME and Mark!!!! It is our God given responsibility to raise them, and we WILL be accountable to God for how we do it. That is Bible Basics!!! And, I talk to them a lot about how seriously I take that responsibility.

Lately around here, the boys have asked me about going back to college .... joking about getting a PhD, so they can call me Dr. Mom, or going back to work or pursuing some of the other things they know I want to accomplish in my life, and, believe me, there is a list ..... a long list. I have dreams and goals and things I aspire to, and I think about them regularly ....... HOWEVER ........ I know in my heart that there is nothing that I can ever accomplish from that list that will ever be as important to me or as meaningful as the things I can encourage and help them accomplish, and, as a Christian parent ....... that starts with raising these two young men to grow to up to be God fearing, God honoring, God following men of valor!!!! And, if I don't take this responsibility seriously ..... I will have failed God, failed my boys and failed myself.

My dreams, goals and hopes will be there for me when the timing comes right, and, in that moment, they will manifest with all the grace of God in John 10:10 abundance that even I can't currently envision. Malcolm is my hero for reasons that only I can understand, and Mackenzie makes my heart smile in ways that come from no other place ....... and, right now, they are learning and growing at Youth Group, where I know they are learning and growing with the Godly principles I stand on daily, being reinforced by our Christian family who genuinely love and care for them.

In the Full of 101,

Kalena Parenting