One of my favorite things to do is to watch my children play and laugh and just have a really great time.
The beach is almost always the perfect backdrop for that. I say “almost always” because if you have children that are frightened by the sound of the roaring waves and by the sight of the waves rushing up toward them, sometimes the beach can be stressful.
We moved “beach side” about two years ago when we transplanted from the northern part of the Midwest to the south – 1,300 miles one way!! The ocean was a very new thing for my children and somewhat scary. From their vantage point at 8, 1.5, and 2, I think those waves looked entirely different than they did to us.
We just let them play way up by the sand dunes – in other words, as far away from the water as they could get! My husband played in the water and our oldest eventually went in up to his ankles. Slowly, they have all gotten much more comfortable with the water while keeping a healthy respect for its power.
Yesterday, my oldest son was in up to his chest and the little ones were in to their ankles – quite the progression! I dipped the cute and chubby toes of our newest little one, who is 8 months old, in the waves this time to begin her progression as well.
As a mom I have a tendency to look at where my children are academically or mentally and assume this tendency or that issue will stay with them their whole lives – and then the worry tumbles all through my mind. I try to peer into the future to figure out what havoc this particular issue will wreak in their teen years and into their adult lives.
Today reminded me that time is a wonderful medicine. Eventually, most things are corrected through love and consistency over time. Rough places are smoothed and low places are filled in through our admonition and nurturing in their lives.
Disclaimer: I am the HomeGrown Mommy. I have an *earthy* illustration for this. You got fair warning!
We are the gardeners tending a beautifully growing garden. Sometimes, there are weeds to pull, hard clumps of soil to loosen and rocks to dig out and throw away. Sometimes, there is watering, fertilizing, getting rid of bugs, and the list goes on. All of these things can apply as a fabulous illustration of child-rearing.
My encouragement for you today is to sit back, enjoy the sunshine and smell the flowers in your garden! Things that seem like huge looming issues today will not be so large in a few days or a few months or a few years. Love is a strong fertilizer containing all the nutrients and minerals our little plants need to grow up big and strong with a good yield!
Are you dealing with an issue that you feel you children are doomed to keep forever? Have you made it through some particular attitude or fear and can see how they have grown? Tell us about it!
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