I just want to take a little time to give some props to my two oldest daughters.They are such blessings to me. Not just because they help around the house, because truth be told, with one of them I have get a cattle prod after her to get her to help at times. It is the relationship that we have that is a blessing. It is watching them blossoming into the young ladies that they are now that is a blessing. It is the honor that they bring to our family that is the blessing.
Many times over the years i'd get nervous thinking about parenting during the teenage years. I didn't exactly have the best relationship with my own parents as a teen. They still claim that I am the one that gave them gray hairs. Now I wasn't THAT bad, but it was rough for quite a few years.
With our own children, we have always been told that we have great kids in one sentence, just to be warned in the next that one day they'd be teenagers. Of course every teenager rebels and gives their parents trouble, right? At least it seems that many people think this way.
Scott and I have stayed up many a night talking about this, praying for our children and the wisdom to do what was right in raising them. We wanted it to be different in our family, (what family doesn't)? Not that we don't ever expect them to make a mistake. We just want to maintain a strong enough relationship to guide them through these years that lead to adulthood.
Although we are not all the way through the teen years and we still have many teens left to raise, I just wanted to say that I am really enjoying these years. All the years of training and teaching are really starting to show through.
One of the greatest moments was when I heard one of them repeating something that i'd taught them years ago to the little ones. I immediately thought, "Thankyou, Jesus. They actually were listening!" I am blessed indeed.
I just wanted to share a picture of my family. It is from Mother's day. I am hugely pregnant with Anna still in this picture, but it is all of us.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
The blessings of teens
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
Great post. I have to commend you on your two oldest. They are the politest sweetest teenagers I have ever met. They are the kind of girls that I hope and pray my girls grown up to become.
Teresa, thank you so much for this post. I find myself getting cold sweats over the thought of raising teenagers someday. It is beautiful to hear what a blessing your girls are for you, and it gives me hope.
What a wonderful picture of your family!
Awww, thanks for saying that, Nicole. I know the girls would appreciate hearing that.
Kate, i've had the same panicky feelings myself. :-) Anytime we'd have an issue to deal with i'd start to worry. Now I just breathe deep and go on when those feelings come back.
Oh, and there is hope that your teens can love God and their family and be respectful.
I think that we, as a whole, put low expectations on teens. I don't think i'd be very motivated to try if everyone was just waiting for me to fail. It's just kind of expected that teens will go crazy for a few years and they know it too.
Ok, i'm stepping off of my soapbox now. lol
I don't think I've ever commented, but I've always wanted to see your family. You are a great looking group. And thanks for reminding us moms of girls to give them credit where it is due.
I have 6 and 4 year old girls so of course they are a long way from those teen years. I feel like I correct them all day long, but then forget to point out why I LOVE having them in our family. There is a true bond that I have with them that my husband does not simply because they are girls. I look forward to watching them mature and grow into the women God wants them to be. Thanks again.
Teens are an absolute blessing.
Tag!!
Post a Comment