Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Kindergarten and 2nd grade!

Well, it's a big year. Both kids in school for the first time. Although I'm looking forward to some much-needed sanity, I must admit I will miss having at least one home each day. I am a sentimental person and new chapters always bring much reflection for me looking back.

I choose not to focus on regret. The days of not being able to get work done because little feet and hands were needing watching almost every minute, of being frustrated by being interrupted every time I tried to get up early in order to have a quiet time, of having to lug 1 or 2 extra people around everywhere I went, etc. . . I admit I do think on those and others (obviously) briefly, but I try and focus on being thankful for all those years at home and pray God used the good for their good and the not-so-good at what I did I pray they are only better because of it, not worse. I'm not so naive as to think they possibly have a few bad habits because of my example, but His Word promises to "cause all things to work together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28) Hopefully they picked up more on the positives.

I already find myself gazing sadly and longingly at those momma's in Target and Wal-Mart with their little ones; knowing it was only a few short years ago (or one) that I too was there, able to enjoy those sweet faces. . . . Ahh . . . . And then I'm quickly reminded of what a nightmare it was taking a 3 and 1 year old to the grocery store! Wes and his screaming fits to ride in a certain cart, Gracie complaining the whole time about wanting to go home. . . so maybe I don't miss exactly THAT.

But I do miss the long mornings laying in bed with 2 little ones watching Dora, drinking their sippy cups of milk. I miss watching them play together in their rooms - especially making music with the toddler piano. The funny things they would say, the chubby cheeks I would squeeze, the tiny shoes, the places we could go together during the day when all the big kids were in school . . .

When 2:30 rolls around, I usually have been watching the clock for at least an hour, ready for them to be influenced and played with by Mom and Dad instead of who knows who or what! It is quite a shock that for so long you knew what your child did, went, played with, said, ate and saw every second of every day to the disturbing realization that for 7 hours a day, you have absolutely no idea about most of those things. Talk about the building of your faith.

"For faith is the assurance of things hoped for (for them to glorify God in all they do and say), the certainty of things not seen (that they do glorify God in all they say and do)." (Hebrews 11:1) We as parents can only do so much. And parenting is a slow process of letting go every step of the way. You stop nursing, they start walking, you drop them off at Mother's Day Out, you take them to a friend's house, several days of preschool, and then school 5 days a week ,7 hours a day. The toddler years are so imperative; I've heard it said so many times. And yet our job continues and increases in many ways when they are in school. What you've taught them about being a friend, sharing, talking about Jesus, using "wholesome talk," etc. Now it's show time. But they are still in training. Aren't we all? We're here to "run the race with perseverance," to "fight the good fight of faith." We aren't done until we see our Savior face to face. And so we train and we train our children to train themselves.

May we be able to teach our children in such a way that they too can say the same as Paul,
"For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, . . . I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing."
2 Timothy 4:6-8