Each Path is different.....

As mother's day approaches, I am reflecting on how my mom has influenced my life and also my road in motherhood.

My mom is turning 90 this year and she has been the spiritual leadership/prayer warrior in my life.  She is full of fun and has so much wisdom.  I love her and so appreciate our daily phone calls and bi-monthly visits.  Every day I realize more and more how the Lord has given me a mom that has so loved me and impacted my life.    I have joked that she didn't prepare me for life, as she is so wonderful and I thought that everyone was like her - only to get to college and find friends that were not so lucky with their moms.  She knows how to let go and not judge me and most importantly, has always prayed for me.

I, on the other hand still have so much to learn from her.  Motherhood is such a wonderful privilege as well as daunting.  As the kids were growing up, I often felt overwhelmed with all the homework, dealing with sickness and allergies that I hadn't experienced myself as well as a home business.  I think that I was a victim of my personality.  Looking back, I think I could have done so many things differently.

I always attempted to make each of the kids feel special as I felt they were.  

Having said all that - even though I sometimes wished that our kids weren't asthmatic and struggling in school - until now I never realized how truly blessed we were - as yes our kids struggled in school, which taught them to work hard in life and yes, they all had asthma and allergies, endlessly at the doctors - which still can be a challenge - but they can all live very normal lives.  I have known that we have been truly blessed with our four kids since the day we found out that we were pregnant with each of them.  (especially after having a couple of miscarriages).

Through it all - raising our kids was such a joy!!!!  Love and proud of them all!!!

Each parent has different paths in their rearing years - with different victories and different struggles.  When you have the Lord and are a couple that loves each other throughout - you can make it.  

Recently, I have seen a very small picture of different parents struggles and it has given me such admiration for them in so many ways.  

I am seeing a dad working with his son, side-by-side tirelessly helping him to learn a job - a dad who looks past his sons disability (downs syndrome) believing that he can do anything he sets his mind to.  Very positive, encouraging words, joking with him and prodding him along to get the work done - and again tirelessly.

I see a family that loves their daughter (Williams Syndrome) and helping her start a business selling bracelets.  They understand that she doesn't like loud noises and walk out of restaurants at the sight of a balloon, a fear that is part of the syndrome.  They gear their life around some of her fears, never complaining.

My sister, her son (autistic) she works tirelessly finding jobs, friends, reads to him, plays games that he likes.  One time her phone called me by mistake - and I listened in to her conversation with him (she didn't know I was listening) and it was so sweet.  It made me cry.  She was driving him around and they were talking and I could see her giving him such respect in how she treated him.

I don't know the behind the scenes, only that these parents love their kids and have the long term challenges.  It certainly makes our challenges seem a drop in the bucket.

Again it is such a privilege to have the title of "Mom" - and a joy.  When I was growing up - my mom made the job looked so easy.....