WARNING: It’ll Be Over Before You Know It!

Yesterday my youngest son, Mark, turned 17. (Picture of him with my granddaughter last year) So very hard to believe that in a little over one year, he will be the 8th and last to graduate from our homeschool. After 34 years of raising and training children, a new season will begin for me.

“The days pass so swiftly,the months come and go

The years melt away like new falling snow”

You always hear people say to young parents, “Enjoy those years. They go by so fast!” It is so true. However, it doesn’t seem fast at the time. In fact, some times it’s hard to enjoy. There is fatigue, busyness, frustration, and challenges. There are often times of tears. It’s not easy being a mom, and when you add homeschooling to your job, the challenges increase.

I’d like to just share a few thoughts for those of you who are still in those early, hectic busy, busy days of raising your family, or maybe a little farther along in the journey and feeling weary.

Thoughts from an OLDER mom, to encourage younger moms:

1. You WILL make it.

Sometimes you may not feel like you can’t keep on, but as moms we do what we have to, and we keep going even when it’s hard. Sometimes we are too busy trying to survive, to enjoy it! It DOES get better.

2. Though you may not always ENJOY the ride, you will get much JOY from it.

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There’s no describing the joy of watching your kids learn, grow, and then develop into young adults who love the Lord, and go on to serve Him. Suddenly you realize that all those seeds you planted DID take root. (3 John 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.)

3. Don’t wish the days away.

I know sometimes you think you just can’t wait until—they are potty trained, they can dress themselves, they learn to read on their own, etc. I’ve been there, and I remember. But try to enjoy each stage and season, because before you know it, it will be past.

4. Take time to make memories.

You don’t want to be the parent who looks back and says “I wish I’d slowed down more, and spent time doing things, and making memories with the kids.” Be intentional.

Say Goodbye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes... in You and Your Kids Passionate Parenting: Enjoying the Journey of Parenting Teens Solving A Crisis in Christian Parenting: Why so many prodigals?[(Child Training Tips : What I Wish I Knew When My Children Were Young)] [By (author) Reb Bradley] published on (August, 2014)

5. No matter how mundane your daily duties seem, your home and family are your ministry, and you are serving the Lord.

That time you spend training, correcting, and teaching them in God’s Word and ways, are an investment in eternity. When you tired of doing the same thing day in and day out, remember Who you are serving.

The words of a Patch the Pirate song, “Cherish the Moment” are in my mind right now.

Sing a song, play a game, swing me high in the air;

Ride a bike, fly a kite, how I love the times we share;

Hold my hand, hug my neck, Daddy bounce me on your knee;

Come & sit by my bed, Mommy rock me to sleep.

Cherish the moment, soon you’ll be apart,

Cling to the memory, clasp it to your heart;

Soon comes the day when you’ll have no child to hold,

So cherish, cherish the moment.

Think ahead to a time when your little ones are grown,

Hold them tight, don’t lose sight of the blessings you have known;

Think ahead to a time when your little boy’s a man,

And you’d give anything just to hold him again.

“The days are long, but the years are short.”

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