Lessons I Learned

This photo was from last year, but it goes with my theme. My children have graduated into young adulthood. Parenting takes on a little different role when that happens, but some lessons that I  leaned when they were little will always stay with me.

Expect the Unexpected : Like when  your toddler is admiring the rubber duckies in the big fountain in the middle of the medical clinic and they decide to take a closer look by jumping in!

Be prepared to be Humbled : When you tell your 7 year old you will join them in the backyard soon. Next thing you know your little one bursts in the door and is glaring at you talking on the phone and says, “Well I see what is more important!” 

Your children are watching when you aren’t even thinking you are teaching a lesson : They remember when you forgave their sibling for breaking your favorite mug. Bringing it up years later saying how “things are just things” and that you showed what was more important.

You reminisce more than you think : Apparently I had been talking a lot about the days when my children were little for  my 10 year old looked at me and said, “You really need to get yourself a 5 year old!”

Your children will imitate you when you least expect it : Like when you are having morning sickness with your 2nd child and your toddler joins you in the bathroom, leaning over her potty chair and growling!

Power of “I Love You!” : Hearing it from your older child makes your heart melt as much as when you heard it for the first time from your toddler.

What a Cedar Chest Holds : Baby clothes, Homemade cards and little drawings, mementos of special milestones in your childs life, but will  never be big enough to hold the deep emotions of feeling incredibly blessed, and to be honest, incredibly stressed at times, of watching your children grow!