You are doing an amazing job, and I rejoice you are leaning into the Lord’s beautiful grace🙏 May I share? I have six precious ones, now aged 27-14yo. Some were born compliant, and were sadly, easily imposed upon. One in particular was not. I had nothing to guide me except my (& my husbands’) fundamentalist authoritarian expectations. How I wish I could go back and practice gentle co regulation for years on end, so I could show her what Our Heavenly Father is like. It would be so worth it. How I wish I had found websites like Laura Markham’s Peaceful Parenting, Happy Child much earlier than I did. I did not know then that God has wired some children in ways that are a special gift (eg, high sensitivity) that need special nurturing. I did not know that I needed to be gentle towards myself. 💗
Every word, so true. It also breaks my heart when I hear my toddler say she wants to be better because, don’t we all? Here’s to more grace and love and mercy in training up these souls we are called to steward.
Rachel, this was so beautifully written. Thank you. A mom of 4, but definitely not doing this mom thing perfectly. Doing the thing that I wish I would not do, responding with impatience, embarrassed instead of engaging. Where is the new man? But thanks be to God for his tender mercies that are so much more generous than my meager efforts. I am always so blessed and encouraged by your writing.
What a beautiful reminder of God's mercy that chooses to see our Savior rather than our failiings. Your family is so blessed by your walk with Him and so are we.
I love this. You give me hope for the shortcomings and failures I anticipate and sometimes fear I will one day face in motherhood, even as I long desperately for it.
This is so good. Sundays are hard for me too...so much grief, pain and fear all rolled up into something I have trouble dealing with. Add on teens having a hard time getting out of bed and the threat of being late and being seen being late and I find myself expressing my frustration with words in my head and heart and sometimes aloud: "I hate Sundays." Goodness 💔😭 I don't want to hate Sundays!
You so vividly describe this scene: I remember those years.
Exhausted.
Frustrated.
Embarrassed by my child’s behavior.
Out of patience.
… and then realizing that my behavior set an example for my children. Needing to show them the abundant forgiveness of God, even as I struggled in my own sin over and over again.
My kids are still kids & teens. So I don’t know how much of that will stick with them. But I know it changed ME.
Bless you. Mine is 35 now and has her own toddler and baby now to guide and struggle with. You will become a bridge over troubled waters for others. Know that God loves you and your family and I leave with you today’s Bible verse from Insprations from Romans 8:28 “For we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.”
Ps ADHD diagnosis explains a lot and Christians need not be afraid of the medication which I believe God has given us the knowledge to create.
this took me right back to toddler days and I felt all the emotions. One Sunday morning my middle son threw his half-eaten banana at our pastor. Things happen, goodness and mercy follow, but grace, grace was already there waiting for us.
Every motherreading is smiling with tears in her eyes. Absolutely beautiful.
You are doing an amazing job, and I rejoice you are leaning into the Lord’s beautiful grace🙏 May I share? I have six precious ones, now aged 27-14yo. Some were born compliant, and were sadly, easily imposed upon. One in particular was not. I had nothing to guide me except my (& my husbands’) fundamentalist authoritarian expectations. How I wish I could go back and practice gentle co regulation for years on end, so I could show her what Our Heavenly Father is like. It would be so worth it. How I wish I had found websites like Laura Markham’s Peaceful Parenting, Happy Child much earlier than I did. I did not know then that God has wired some children in ways that are a special gift (eg, high sensitivity) that need special nurturing. I did not know that I needed to be gentle towards myself. 💗
PS also wish there were articles like this to read 20 years ago https://open.substack.com/pub/jaymallow/p/cause-im-in-the-lords-army-192?r=4ijym&utm_medium=ios
Thank you for sharing this, Kathryn!
Every word, so true. It also breaks my heart when I hear my toddler say she wants to be better because, don’t we all? Here’s to more grace and love and mercy in training up these souls we are called to steward.
Rachel, this was so beautifully written. Thank you. A mom of 4, but definitely not doing this mom thing perfectly. Doing the thing that I wish I would not do, responding with impatience, embarrassed instead of engaging. Where is the new man? But thanks be to God for his tender mercies that are so much more generous than my meager efforts. I am always so blessed and encouraged by your writing.
And I am blessed and encouraged by this comment! Thank you for humility and vulnerability!
What a beautiful reminder of God's mercy that chooses to see our Savior rather than our failiings. Your family is so blessed by your walk with Him and so are we.
Thank you so much, Steven!
I love this. You give me hope for the shortcomings and failures I anticipate and sometimes fear I will one day face in motherhood, even as I long desperately for it.
This is so good. Sundays are hard for me too...so much grief, pain and fear all rolled up into something I have trouble dealing with. Add on teens having a hard time getting out of bed and the threat of being late and being seen being late and I find myself expressing my frustration with words in my head and heart and sometimes aloud: "I hate Sundays." Goodness 💔😭 I don't want to hate Sundays!
Thank you Lord for supplying us with your love that never runs dry. When I settle into your presence, you quiet my anxious heart.
Amen.
I can’t love this enough.
You so vividly describe this scene: I remember those years.
Exhausted.
Frustrated.
Embarrassed by my child’s behavior.
Out of patience.
… and then realizing that my behavior set an example for my children. Needing to show them the abundant forgiveness of God, even as I struggled in my own sin over and over again.
My kids are still kids & teens. So I don’t know how much of that will stick with them. But I know it changed ME.
Oh, Rachel. This is the best.
A toast to all of us in the trenches! Clinging tightly - desperately - to Jesus!
I'm saving this for when I'm a mum.
❤️❤️❤️
So relatable♥️ what a rollercoaster mothering is!
Bless you. Mine is 35 now and has her own toddler and baby now to guide and struggle with. You will become a bridge over troubled waters for others. Know that God loves you and your family and I leave with you today’s Bible verse from Insprations from Romans 8:28 “For we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.”
Ps ADHD diagnosis explains a lot and Christians need not be afraid of the medication which I believe God has given us the knowledge to create.
this took me right back to toddler days and I felt all the emotions. One Sunday morning my middle son threw his half-eaten banana at our pastor. Things happen, goodness and mercy follow, but grace, grace was already there waiting for us.
This was so helpful and healing to read ❤️🩹
Oh my goodness, this made me cry 😭