Remind Me

“Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.” Psalm 127:3

Being a parent is rewarding. Notice, I did NOT say easy. Loving our kids is easy, but the parenting thing is tough. The rewards we reap from being there for our children are endless, and knowing that God entrusted us to guide them in His ways is such a blessing.

The photo above is what I woke up to. My toddler, who will be 3 next month, was sitting on the couch with his cup while I got ready for bed. When he was finished, he came to bed. I walked out this morning to find crumbs from his snack, his blanket wadded, and his cup sitting just like that on the couch.

The above may not seem significant. In a way it isn't, at least not right at this minute. But, I want to make a point that these little moments we don't think mean much but that bring smiles to our lips are mega in the grand scheme of things.

Teaching Our Babies

We teach our kids through modeling behaviors we want them to mimic. We also teach them through reinforcement and punishment, but they may pick up really well on some things but not so much in other areas. My 7-year-old is usually pretty good about putting dishes in the sink and cleaning up after himself. Yes, he has had more practice, but he has been doing this for a while now because we taught him. We have been trying to teach this same practice with our soon-to-be-3-year-old. He hasn't quite gotten the hang of it, but this morning, I am thankful for that because now I have a moment to look back on. A moment that preserves his innocence and one that reminds me that, while he is learning, he is still little.

Don't Stress

These little things can add up if we let them. Crumbs on the couch, cups not in the sink, dirty clothes tossed on the floor. All of this can be stressful to deal with when you have to go around picking up all the time, but try to get a new perspective and see these little moments as gifts from your little on, and even your not so little one. Take photos to preserve these little kisses of time you won't get back and let them be etched into the memories you hold dear rather than the ones you will forget because you were so stressed out or irritated to see it for what it was: a gift, a blessing, and a reminder that your kids won't be kids forever.

Soak up the time you have. Teach them where cups go after they use them, but don't get upset when they don't learn things perfectly. Don't be angry when they make a mess. Remember, the bets parts of life usually are messy, so enjoy the time with your kids while you have them. Hold them close, take pictures of the little things, and thank God for blessing you with the messiest, most challenging, most precious and best gifts ever.