Wouldn't it be nice if we could break parenting down into a formula. How easy would parenting be if there were concrete formulas like; practice so many spelling words and get an A, give so many time outs and get a well behaved child, so many hours of sleep and no crabbiness, so many vitamins & healthy food and no illnesses or disease. Instead we have advice like: sleep with your baby, let your baby cry him/herself to sleep, sleep on back, sleep on belly, time outs, no time outs, spankings, no spankings, grounding, not grounding, buy them a car, don't buy them a car, match their savings, give them no money, do this, don't do this, do that, don't do that & on & on & on.
Parenting 4 children brings about a lot of parental experiences, however it has yet to lead me to that magic formula. Matter of fact, if anything, it has lead me to believe that there is definitely no formula or blanket solution to any parenting issue. What works for one child will more than likely not work for another child. Matter of fact, what works for one child will probably be cause for counseling for another child. I am continually amazed that all 4 of my children are indeed from my husband & I. If they didn't look alike, share a last name, and birthed by me; I'd think they came from 4 different planets. The sooner parents realize that each child will require different parenting the sooner they can start being effective parents to each & every one of their children.
I wish I could turn the clock back and hold my 8lb 10z Ella with the confidence and comfortableness that I held my 7lbs 13oz Addison. I wish the excitement & enthusiasm for all the smiles, coos, laughs & baby cuteness were just as natural with my fourth baby as they were with my first. Other than raising my kids to love the Lord, for now this is the only formula of sorts I am really concerned at equaling out. I don't want to miss out on the excitement of Addy's milestones because I've already celebrated them with 3 other children. I don't want to love on my Ella and have fun with her any less than how much I love on Addy and have fun with her. I want to strive to have the same parenting passion I had with Ella with Brennan, Connor & Addison. I want to bring the perspective of a fourth time a mom to parenting Ella, Brennan, Connor & Addison.
Are you a parent of multiple children? How do you keep your parenting passion alive for each of them? Has the 3, 4, 5, 6 ... children provided a new perspective to parenting your older children?
1 comments:
You are on the right track with raising your kids. I have four children also and I can tell you they are all different. Passion for parenting has to spring out of passion for the Lord and you are so right that is what it's all about - everything else is temporal. I am thankful for my husband and my mom and my church where I received fellowship and encouragment for myself as I raised the kids. I know your life is like that, too. It's so good. Great post today.
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