I'll say it again: Parenting is Tough. Don't worry, this post has nothing to do with poop. But, truth be told, if all I had to worry about in a day was poop I'd be one relaxed Mama! The truth is, most days I second guess at least half of the decisions that I make on behalf of Silas. I'm always wondering if I'm doing the best thing for him. There is often much anxiety and stress. And I believe that most of the anxiety is not really over the present but over the future. My imagination often wanders. What will Silas be like as an adult? Will he love God? Will he be polite? Will he be a man of integrity? Will he be responsible? Will he have a good sense of humor?
And somewhere in mix of those questions floating in my head I conjure up the crazy notion that I'm SOLELY responsible for the man Silas becomes. And I reduce my view of parenting to some book's technique or formula that promises to turn out top quality adults. And I rely on man's ideas. And I determine success and failure by my own flawed expectations.
Talk about a recipe for disaster. Talk about a Mama who OFTEN needs to redirect her thoughts.
So what IS my responsibility as a mom then? I was very encouraged recently by this article from Christianity Today titled "The Myth of the Perfect Parent." It was written by Leslie Leyland Fields, author of "Parenting Is Your Highest Calling: And Eight Other Myths That Trap Us in Worry and Guilt," a book that I'm hoping to get my hands on soon. If you're a Mama struggling with similar thoughts, you might do well to read the article.
P.S. I came across the link to the article while reading my friend Kim's blog. If you have time to read a little of her family's journey I promise you'll be encouraged!