First, I want to thank you for your prayers last week. I did not make it to my sister's wedding, and it absolutely broke my heart. But here's the thing – Friday into Saturday we got hit with a snowstorm. And those of you in the northeast know how spring snowstorms can be – wet, heavy, and dangerous. There is absolutely no way I would have made it to the airport to catch a flight that morning, even if the flight hadn't been cancelled. I even said something to my daughter, "See, God really does know more then we do. He knew the storm was coming, and that we would have paid all that money for plane tickets for nothing." Sometimes it's hard to admit that God is right and we are wrong. The truth is that God is always right, about everything. We live in this time period for a reason. We go through trails for a reason (I love listening to Riley Clemmen's song Better For It). We even have children at certain ages for a reason…….
Have you ever felt like you wished you could either turn back the clock, or speed it up quite a bit? I've been feeling that lately, more so than usual. My daughter is sixteen and a junior in high school. She'll be taking her driver's test soon, we're visiting a college in a couple of weeks, she's going to help me drive to CFRR, she got inducted into the National Technical Honor Society and will soon be inducted into the Cooperstown Honor Society. ***sorry for the mama brags*** She has a heart for the Lord, and even though she's in a public school, she sticks to her guns when it comes to morals and what the Lord wants her to stay away from. I couldn't be any prouder.
But there's a lot of moments lately, and coming up, where I am just in near tears. My little girl is growing up, and soon will be on her own. God willing, she'll have her own family, live who knows where, and not be there for daily hugs anymore. Moms, you know how I'm feeling. My husband and I were not able to have children after Caitlin, and that makes me want to hold her even closer! The season of me having a child at home is almost coming to an end.
Here's the thing, which Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 reminds us of – there is a season for everything. In a year or so my husband and I will start a new chapter in our lives, as will Caitlin. God has a purpose for that. He designed families to grow like that. It's exciting, scary and painful all at the same time. But the truth is that we can have peace about it. God's got it under control. He has a purpose for these stages in our lives, and He will guide us through every single step. Mama's out there – take heart. You are not alone! Just lean on the Lord to help you through. And don't hide your emotions from your kids. I recently admitted to Caitlin when she wanted to go driving with her friend (who just got her license) that I simply wasn't ready to let her go. It was all happening so fast, and I just couldn't handle it. You know what she did? She gave me a big hug and told me that she guarantees that she will feel the same way when she has a 16 year old daughter. She's kind of amazing (I mean except when we're fighting like cats lol).
Yep, God's got everything under control. He's even given me a daughter who totally gets me, and is patient with my unwillingness to embrace the changes that are happening. I'm so very thankful for that.
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You have an amazing daughter! God blessed you big, and you are a great mama! You and your husband have done a great job.
As a teacher to Senior students, I totally understand where you are coming from. Every year parents go through a strange transformation. Sometimes they get a little sad and smother their soon-to-be-leaving kids. Sometimes they get a little extra strict keeping their kids under more-than-typical pressure. And, sometimes the parents seem really excited to be having their kid leave the nest. Regardless of how they act towards their kid, the reason for their actions is all the same — parents are excited, scared, nervous, and in great anticipation of their children moving out, becoming adults, and going off to college or jobs. It is a unique season in parenthood. One I've gotten to witness for the past 12 years. I totally feel your struggle right now. BUT, God's got your daughter! And, God has you as He takes you through this new phase in life.
I also totally get you because Bella is the only child my husband and I could have too. She is a couple of weeks away from 7. I really don't understand time and how fast it can go! But, God's got this time too.
Oh, I hear you and feel your struggle! Connor is the only child my husband and I could have. He's growing so very fast and he wants to do it ALL! He doesn't see the dangers and for this momma that is scary! But I know that God loves my son even more than I do. God holds my son in His hands. God has a perfect plan for my son. I believe that our most important job as parents is to raise them to love, trust and obey God!
I don't have any kids yet but still hoping it will happen someday. I know what you mean though by wanting to slow down or speed up certain seasons in your life. Our timing is certainly not always the same as God's!