My most ambitious DIY project I ever took on was that of becoming a mother. The day I became a mother for the first time, I wish I had a parenting manual to show me how to become a good mother. I had many setbacks and failures with the first one. It wasn’t easy parenting a hyper child. I needed to be two steps ahead of him at all times.
When my daughter came along, I expected the same active child as the first. I was in for a surprise. Where was the manual I needed so badly? My daughter, pictured above was not hyper. She was quiet and easy going. Completely opposite her brother, not pictured. However, she gave me a full hour of peace and quiet during the day. I set her in her infant seat, not the complicated ones they have today, in front of the TV from four until six p.m. every day. My son, seeing how quiet she was, was not about to be upstaged by his sister, so he sat beside her and watched Sesame Street and Star Trek. Peace! I could make supper without worrying what my son was doing or not doing.
Then my youngest son came along. My oldest was hyper, my daughter was quiet, my youngest, pictured above, was quieter still. Whenever we went anywhere, I needed to count noses. On one occasion, I only came up with two noses. I forgot my youngest. We hurried to turn around. I walked into the house to find he had just gotten up from his nap. He didn’t miss us. I got him dressed and in the van and off we went to the hardware store.
I’ve had many trials and errors as a mother. Many times I wanted to throw in the towel. Where was the parenting manual I needed so badly?
I found it when I accepted Jesus as Savior and Lord. As I started reading and studying the Bible when my youngest son turned two years old, I found interesting verses in the book of Proverbs dealing with parenting.
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. (KJV)
Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. (KJV)
I ate up those verses and many others like them as I grew as a Christian. I only wish I knew about this Manual when my first son came along. It would have helped tremendously.
In my defense, I will say my oldest told me I did a good job as a mother. The others agree with him. He told me that several times before he disowned me.
Below is a picture of my entire family and a couple of grandchildren.
I think I did okay. Today, I have three children, pictured, the oldest on the left, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. I wouldn’t trade those learning years for anything.
Thanks for reading. The images belong to me. What is your most successful DIY project?
valerie writes 
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