Living In the Land of Childhood

As any one reading this knows, I am living, in large part, within the Land of Childhood. There are 5 different vistas from which to capture a view from...each one found under the "Kingdom" of our family, yet each one distinctly different and at various points of development. Quite honestly, there are many moments when I feel as though I should apologize to the children, as at this point in time, I feel the training aspect of parenting has been overshadowed by the primitive need to simply keep the children alive and healthy. At the end of any given day, it is enough that the children feel loved, have been fed, are clean (relatively, anyway!) and...well...that's it.

HOWEVER...

I have, in the moments I have to think uninterrupted (car rides to and from the new place, naptime, after-children's-bedtime), I do seriously consider the responsibility and awesome opportunity I have smack dab in front of me to actually create an environment in which to grow up little individuals who will someday shape their spheres of influence as adults. It is not something I take lightly, and I consider it a part of my life's mission in this 'season'. Here are a few simple ideals and desires I have regarding the raising of these children. I share these as thoughts, intentions, desires...but in no way as a standard by which I judge others by nor have I accomplished any of these as of yet, and if I ever actually do, it will only be through Divine intervention!!! I am simply sharing these thoughts as I would write them in a journal of heart's desires.

* Keeping up an "Image"...

Oh how my heart does NOT want any part of this!!! Rather, I want to tap into the very heart of who God made my children to be...not what I want them to appear to be in order to make me look good. Even though I am a performer by nature, I would do such a disservice to demand, expect or guilt these children into doing so (although, I know I already do this at some levels). Our friendship with God is so personal, and so important...but I see more and more where it has become a public show, or a mold in which we are expected to shape ourselves/our children/spouse into...and that is just not what the God I serve is all about! (even though I can understand why it is tempting and flourishes...it appeals to our faulty sense of self-goodness and accomplishment.)

*You really can do anything!

My husband has always told Rick that this is true. He is already starting with our next son. God has given you what you need in order to accomplish the desires He has put within you. You'll need His help, and it's readily available in surplus. It probably will not be easy, but it will be worth it. Each of us has a mission before us, and it's our choice to accept it or not. I want my children to grow up fearlessly accepting and embracing the unpredictable and sometimes seemingly impossible adventure of life...without fear. This is not teaching them to be cocky, but confident in who God is and who He created them to be.

*Giving them TIME and SPACE to live out their childhood!!!!

This has been a desire of mine long before having children. I do not have any game plan for this (except applying Nancy Reagan's old slogan "Just Say No!"), and perhaps it is as unrealistic as anything...but it's still a firm intention both my husband and I have. There are alot of good things to get involved in...and plenty of expectation from people to do just that....but does that mean it is BEST for our family? In many cases, we have found that it is a key to our sanity and the healthiest option to KEEP SCHEDULES SIMPLE. That is easy right now, I recognize...harder as they get older. I do not know how it will all play out, but I just really, really want to carve out and protect the time and space for them to live out their childhood in an unhurried, non-overly-scheduled way. A dear friend of mine once shared a quote with me that revealed the literal meaning of 'raise up a child in the way he should go' as 'giving your child an environment in which he/she can breathe'.

Love it. Want to do it. I Will to do just that.

The picture above is one of my favorites from my childhood. It was taken in my grandma's backyard swingset, upon which I loved the exhilerating feeling of soaring high into the sky on that swing beside their barn on lazy summer days. I was given space to enjoy my childhood, and as I think about it, aside from knowing that I was loved by my God and family, that was the greatest gift my parents ever gave me. I was not shuttled here, there and everywhere....I had freedom to move about in my room, backyard and grandma's house as my imagination moved me. Thank you mom and dad!!!

I had wanted to share an excerpt from a book I just started (and will take a decade to read, probably), but I hear someone crying upstairs and will go to rescue her.

Thanks for listening to my thoughts....I can't imagine that they are all that interesting, and it is perfectly fine with me if no one would read them. Sometimes it just helps (me) when I cement my thoughts down on 'paper'.

Warmly,

Your little mother-type friend at the Coffee-Cottage