The picture above is of my mother and my grandmother on my mother's front porch.I am a daughter. As a young woman, I many times resented my mother's presence in my life. I didn't understand what she was trying to teach me. I didn't appreciate what I viewed as her interference in the way I lived. I wanted her to leave me alone. I couldn't understand why she chose to do things the way that she did.
I am a mother. As a woman approaching middle age, with a teenage daughter of my own, I understand more of the things my mother attempted to teach me when I was a teenager. I understand the rules she had for our lifes and the reasons behind those rules. I can appreciate the love that she put into trying to keep me safe and more of the reasons for many of the things she did.
My teenage daughter is rapidly approaching young womanhood. She is thirteen years old and looks and acts much older. She is modest, pure, emotional, honest, and sweet. She is a trustworthy young lady. I have set rules for her. She has a young man in her life who is a good boy. To help them continue to be good young people, they are allowed to see each other at school and church functions and also to have "dates" that include parental supervision. She knows she will not be allowed to have a date without adult supervision until she is fifteen. She is agreeable to that as is her young man. I am proud of her for the choices she has made in her life so far and hope and pray that she continues in the ways she has already chosen.
I am frightened for her at times with this worldly place we live in. With the dangers that abound and seem to be there to trip our children up. I am encouraged by her many times as I see her set her goals in life and work towards them. At thirteen years old she has already chosen a career she wants and studies hard to be able to make that career path a possibility. She has chosen two colleges that she is debating about attending. One is here in GA and one is in PA where her grandparents live. She knows what is involved in her being able to go to college but since her career choice requires college she will continue to work hard towards that goal.
As a daughter I am proud of my mother. I love her and hope that as an adult I can give her the respect that I now understand she really deserved all along.
As a mother, I hope that I am teaching my daughter in the ways she should follow. I hope that I am honoring my mother and my grandmother as I attempt to pass on knowledge to my daughter. As a mother I hope my daughter is proud of me now and if she is not that she will be proud and understanding later, when she is a mother herself.
I am a mother. As a woman approaching middle age, with a teenage daughter of my own, I understand more of the things my mother attempted to teach me when I was a teenager. I understand the rules she had for our lifes and the reasons behind those rules. I can appreciate the love that she put into trying to keep me safe and more of the reasons for many of the things she did.
My teenage daughter is rapidly approaching young womanhood. She is thirteen years old and looks and acts much older. She is modest, pure, emotional, honest, and sweet. She is a trustworthy young lady. I have set rules for her. She has a young man in her life who is a good boy. To help them continue to be good young people, they are allowed to see each other at school and church functions and also to have "dates" that include parental supervision. She knows she will not be allowed to have a date without adult supervision until she is fifteen. She is agreeable to that as is her young man. I am proud of her for the choices she has made in her life so far and hope and pray that she continues in the ways she has already chosen.
I am frightened for her at times with this worldly place we live in. With the dangers that abound and seem to be there to trip our children up. I am encouraged by her many times as I see her set her goals in life and work towards them. At thirteen years old she has already chosen a career she wants and studies hard to be able to make that career path a possibility. She has chosen two colleges that she is debating about attending. One is here in GA and one is in PA where her grandparents live. She knows what is involved in her being able to go to college but since her career choice requires college she will continue to work hard towards that goal.
As a daughter I am proud of my mother. I love her and hope that as an adult I can give her the respect that I now understand she really deserved all along.
As a mother, I hope that I am teaching my daughter in the ways she should follow. I hope that I am honoring my mother and my grandmother as I attempt to pass on knowledge to my daughter. As a mother I hope my daughter is proud of me now and if she is not that she will be proud and understanding later, when she is a mother herself.
3 comments:
Great post. Happy Mother's Day. You're doing a terrific job. I love your dating parameters. My almost 13-year-old doesn't have any prospects, but dang it if she doesn't have a 12-year-old friend who has WAAAAYYYY too much freedom and is loose as all get out. We say "No" to almost every request regarding this girl--but it's a very small school and their grade has only 12 kids. Their aren't a lot of friends to choose from.
Why must other parents, in their mega-freedom-mindsets have to wreck it all for the rest of us?? Do you have this problem in Georgia? Living in the northeast can be such the burden!!!
We do have the mega freedom issues down here. However, my children have always had boundries and have generally followed them. They know there are consequences for behavior that is unacceptable. We have had issues with friends that have more freedoms than they necessarily should have but in my home they obey my rules or they dont come back. I guess I am the "mean" mom LOL
Hey...I love the blogs...but the picture of me was NOT very flattering!! Keep writing...and maybe you should run by Mom any photos you choose to use of me!! LOL.... love you!
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