http://www.faithit.com/moms-kids-video-confession-touching/
I had a friend send me this link today. How odd that she should do this, as I was just thinking today about how it was with Alex as he grew up. I found a card from him in a file folder (which is what got me thinking about it). It said, "Dear Mom, Thank you for hiring another tutor for me. Thank you for always reminding me to do things. Thank you for always doing your best to help me become a better person. I love you. You should really take a day off. Love Alex".
The card made me laugh....but it also made me think about just how hard it was with Alex. I thought about all those times that I would have to go to school with him, then take him to the tutor, then take him onto his next thing.....(and the list goes on and on). I spent the majority of my life in the car with the kid; going from here to there to meet the obligations of his life. I remembered all the years he and I got up 45 minutes before everyone else in the house so that we could practice his Dolch sight words. I cannot even track the hours and hours we spent on homework and those infamous 20-pointers Mrs. Allen gave out. We won't even go into the spelling tests and L.A. assignments...those were the worst! And the sports camps....hours and hours of sitting there watching him practice the same move over and over. Do you know how awful those work-out rooms smell? And his shoes, why could the kid never find his shoes????
I had a friend send me this link today. How odd that she should do this, as I was just thinking today about how it was with Alex as he grew up. I found a card from him in a file folder (which is what got me thinking about it). It said, "Dear Mom, Thank you for hiring another tutor for me. Thank you for always reminding me to do things. Thank you for always doing your best to help me become a better person. I love you. You should really take a day off. Love Alex".
The card made me laugh....but it also made me think about just how hard it was with Alex. I thought about all those times that I would have to go to school with him, then take him to the tutor, then take him onto his next thing.....(and the list goes on and on). I spent the majority of my life in the car with the kid; going from here to there to meet the obligations of his life. I remembered all the years he and I got up 45 minutes before everyone else in the house so that we could practice his Dolch sight words. I cannot even track the hours and hours we spent on homework and those infamous 20-pointers Mrs. Allen gave out. We won't even go into the spelling tests and L.A. assignments...those were the worst! And the sports camps....hours and hours of sitting there watching him practice the same move over and over. Do you know how awful those work-out rooms smell? And his shoes, why could the kid never find his shoes????
I also thought about all the times I grew impatient & tired. I thought about all those times where I wondered if I (or he) would survive his teenage years! Did I do a good job with him? Did I do my best? Did my lack of patience affect things? Did he know and realize that I was hard on him, and myself, because I wanted him to be successful?
Then I watched the video....and guess what? Other mothers ask themselves the same questions!
Kids, no matter the age, really do think about what their parents do for them (although they may never say it or show that gratitude to their parents). It made me remember about how hard Alex tried and worked to be the best at everything he attempted, even if he was a bit of a pillbox while doing it! It made me think about how lucky I was to be able to participate in raising him to be the kind of young man who goes and gives up two years to serve the Lord and his fellow man. Like the lady at the end said, "This is my calling, this is my job, this is what I love to do, and I will do it better, and with love, each and every day because those kids count on me and they love me for what I'm doing."
So Mom's out there....keep up the good work. We are doing a great job, even if we get a little grumpy sometimes. Look what we have to show for all that hard work and dedication; a great group of kids that will someday make great parents.
Then I watched the video....and guess what? Other mothers ask themselves the same questions!
Kids, no matter the age, really do think about what their parents do for them (although they may never say it or show that gratitude to their parents). It made me remember about how hard Alex tried and worked to be the best at everything he attempted, even if he was a bit of a pillbox while doing it! It made me think about how lucky I was to be able to participate in raising him to be the kind of young man who goes and gives up two years to serve the Lord and his fellow man. Like the lady at the end said, "This is my calling, this is my job, this is what I love to do, and I will do it better, and with love, each and every day because those kids count on me and they love me for what I'm doing."
So Mom's out there....keep up the good work. We are doing a great job, even if we get a little grumpy sometimes. Look what we have to show for all that hard work and dedication; a great group of kids that will someday make great parents.
I say we should give ourselves a "pat" on the back....and stop being so hard on ourselves. If that doesn't work, pull out those precious, homemade greeting cards that tell us, "You really should take a day off." Then after we take that day off, we get back on the horse and keep on moving down this road we call life. Heavenly Father entrusted us with these little souls.....and even if it doesn't feel like it at the time, those kids are grateful for us.
And boy oh boy, how grateful I am for those kids.