Hope From Jess About Mothering

“…She’s up before dawn, preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day…”(Proverbs 31, excerpt from The Message).

I sat down this morning to write out encouraging words about parenting. I complained to a friend last night that I feel like I don’t write enough about hope in my blog. “I want to make sure I am putting Christ at the center,” I said, “But sometimes I think everything I write is so…depressing.”

So here it is. A parenting post full of hope.

I had several great points I wanted to make. First, I’ve noticed when I spend quality time with my children, they are in a better mood and are more respectful. Second, when I don’t rush during my day, I have more time to really focus on them.

And I woke up early to write these great points out. Words and phrases were swirling around in my head. I was giddy with the thought of how hopeful my blogging time was going to be.

By 6:45 I was done praying and reading the Word. I had even read my commentary a little (which is on the bottom of my “Time with God” list, even though I love reading it). I flipped up my laptop and opened a blank document. Surely I would have time to write out my parenting thoughts since it was still so early.

I typed one sentence and the door opened. Two sleepy faces appeared.

“Good morning, beautiful children!” I said happily, having just finished praying and drinking a big cup of coffee in my red mug. “Listen, Mommy is going to work on the computer for a few minutes. So go downstairs and get yourselves your milk cups out of the fridge. And then…you can put on a PBS show!”

I was confident that this would buy me the thirty minutes I needed. Surely they would be excited that I was going to let them watch television this early in the day.

They trotted downstairs and I started to write again. “Parenting and Hope….”

Thirty seconds later, a scream. The door opened. There had been conflict over a yogurt smoothie. I quickly resolved it and began writing again.

Two minutes later, the door burst open. A sister had been extremely unkind to an innocent brother.

“Don’t. Come. Up. Again. Unless. It. Is. An. Emergency.” I said, through now gritted teeth.

Fifteen second later. The unkind sister flung the door open.

“WHAT!” I yelled.

The girl collapsed in a puddle of tears and juice box on my feet, inconsolable for ten minutes while my parenting and hope ideas flew far, far away.

And there you go. I hope you were encouraged by my parenting wisdom.

The only hope I have to offer is this:

When you yell at your children, apologize quickly. Because yelling at them is wrong and you wouldn’t yell at your friends, so why yell at your children?

Also, spend time with your children. Maybe first thing in the morning when they need breakfast.

God, I need you every moment as a mom. Please give me joy, love, and patience this day with my three precious children. Help me to laugh with them and find the moments where I can pour You into them this day. In the name of your Son, Amen.