I have always thought of myself as one of the luckiest mothers in the world. Having been blessed with 3 amazing children, I am sure if you're reading this as a mother, you can relate. My boys are so smart and independent, learning every day that their passions can become a reality and I will ALWAYS be their Biggest fan! My little Hadley Grace is a spitfire, forging a life for herself that is full of wonder and curiosity. Being their parent is an amazing gift, and Journey in itself that I am so grateful for.
What have I learned as their mom? So much. But I wanted to list out a few things that have stuck out to me specifically, as there is a large age gap between my middle and youngest (13 yrs to be exact), and these few things have back to me this time around as a reminder of what lessons these babes teach us!
1. PATIENCE IS KEY
Kids are kids. They try to get away with things and drive us up the wall at times. They teach us patience, whether or not we want to learn them or not. I was a very impatient youngster with a short window for reckoning in many ways. After becoming a mother at twenty-one, to my oldest son Malachi, I finally understood what real patience looks like. I learned that even though it's not easy to attain, patience was possible. It's a lesson that's helped me navigate hard times, to just be still, and to practice the pause before responding
2. MY ACTIONS ARE FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN MY WORDS
For years, I have told my children their dreams were possible and to shoot for the stars, yet at some points, I wasn't even shooting for the sky. when the boys were younger, I was working part-time hours swiping a time clock every week at a job that made me feel "less than" every time I entered the building, and to boot, I was barely making enough to survive. As much as I tried to keep it at work, I brought the stress home with me sometimes, and It was a constant reminder of "just not feeling like I was enough" in some moments, and on the flip side to that, it was really making me dig deep and search myself for what I wanted to take away from the experience.
I ultimately said enough after a loving nudge from my manager and three-plus years of juggling the J-O-B, being a mother, and my flourishing Real Estate career, t was time. It was time to solely focus on building my Real Estate career, I felt a weight lifted off my shoulders as soon as I left that job, and my kids noticed the difference immediately when I took action.
Our children see more than we think. We can tell them what to do, but they will follow the actions we take. Our actions will outweigh our words always. I had to get honest about what actions I wanted my children to see and follow. Making big changes is hard, but it will pay dividends in how your children develop.
3. TAKING CARE OF ME IS AS IMPORTANT AS TAKING CARE OF THEM
When I take care of myself, I show up far better for my not-so-little ones and my little one. It's easy for me to get overwhelmed when I don't put my health and wellness first, and that triggers things in me that make parenting even harder than it is. I am lucky to have the support and love to help me when I need to take a few moments to catch my breath after work, grab a nail appointment or take a time out at my favorite beach to collect some beach glass for my mental health.
4. LIVE FULLY EACH DAY
Our children grow up so fast and before we know it, we're sending them off to live their life. I have experienced this, so I'm speaking from experience. Parenting a young adult, a teen, and a toddler all at the same time is quite the experience, I must say. So many experiences in life have taught me that I'm not guaranteed a moment past right now, so spending as much time possible with the three greatest gifts I will ever receive typically trumps other opportunities. None of us is guaranteed anything; we only get one chance to live life. Being a parent taught me that I want to live each moment as if I weren't going to get another one.
5. EMBRACE THE CHAOS
When things get crazy, I can get lost in the chaos. When I set aside my expectations and just "go with it", it becomes easier to manage and have fun with all that needs to get done. When we work as a team to solve a problem, clean up, handle chores, etc life just seems better rather than setting expectations on one another for who is supposed to do what. life is hectic enough without people in your home breathing down your neck right? It becomes a whole heck of a lot more fun when the family unit just lends each other a helping hand!
If you are inclined to share, message me with something that you've learned from your kids. I love hearing about other parents' experiences and journeys as we are all doing the very best we can.
Happy Parenting!!
Xo-
Lawa-Na Marie