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Mother's Day Message for Real Moms
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Written by Jen Saturday, 09 May 2009 14:59
Have you ever really examined the drug store collection of Mother's Day greeting cards? With stylistic bad poetry, they present the image of sweet, gentle mothers who are always there for you. The card mom never complains, never tires, is ready at a moment's notice with wise motherly advice and kind ways that will be remembered and "treasured" (always treasured) forever.I'm not that kinda mom.
Parenting Exhaustion
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Written by Jen Wednesday, 06 May 2009 02:31
Someone sent me an email recently and used the term "parenting exhaustion." What a perfectly wonderful description of life with teens and tweens!This same day, another person told me she was impressed with my "energy."
Wait a minute.
The Schweenie the World Awaited
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Written by Jen Thursday, 23 April 2009 14:56
Well, we did it. After 12 years of pining for a pooch, we made the plunge. We adopted a schweenie last weekend. No kidding.
Our life wasn't weird enough as it was so we decided to welcome this unusual 18 month old shih-tzu/dachshund mix into the family.
Double Vision
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Written by Jen Monday, 13 April 2009 23:57
Being a parent is the ultimate struggle. Being a mother gives one vision that is intuitive, yet often painful. I once read that only a mother can see a child at every age he/she ever was at a glance.I recently had that experience with one of my children. Upset by a number of obstacles, my son sat looking forlorn with his head in his hands. In one moment, I heard his infant cries and glimpsed his wispy toddler curls. I felt the warmth of his baby's body asleep in my arms, and watched myself pick him up after a tumble down the stairs. His chubby little arms wrapped around my neck as I squeezed him tightly and wiped away his tears. Oh, how I wanted to cradle that little boy once again and make everything better!
And yet, though I can offer a kiss, a hug, an encouraging word and a pat on the back, it is too late for anything more. My motherly affection is permitted only in socially acceptable doses. My son is searching for his own answers, wanting to make his own decisions and yes, making plenty of mistakes.
Watching a train wreck in slow motion might be easier than seeing the past and the future all at once.
We moms find ourselves wondering when to interfere, when to step away and when to just observe. Standing firm in our convictions and our expectations is oftentimes gut-wrenching. And like our children, we make mistakes. We sometimes say the wrong thing, make the wrong choice and mess things up royally.
What to do then? Well, clean up the debris; admit our shortcomings and say yet another prayer for guidance...then pay attention to the divine voice rather than the sounds of those around us. Listen more and react less impulsively.
Once a week I meet with Moms in Touch at my church to pray for our children, our families, our community and our world. The needs of our children and our hopes for their future are the catalysts that prompt our small circle to gather despite the weather, packed schedules, illness and malaise. These friends are my parenting barometer. They inspire in me the wish to do better and the strength to yield control to the One who truly makes no error, whose vision is perfect.
Holy Week Reflection
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Written by Jen Wednesday, 08 April 2009 14:23
Sunday's spring weather gave way to storms and chilly temperatures. A to-do list as long as my arm sits in front of me and all I can do is stare out the open window and embrace the cool breeze wafting in with a slight mist. All of it can wait. It's time to think and to pray.This is Holy Week. How fitting it is that the storms should now come. It's a time for self-reflection, for purging, for preparation, for forgiveness, for hope.
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