For the Weary Mom, Part 2

(This is meant to encourage those who are discouraged, not to discourage those who want their children to master necessary skills. Learning and growing is incredibly important, but when we are feeling down, it's good to remind ourselves of the greater good we are instilling into our children.)

(You can read more words to the Weary Mom here.)

A friend of mine was feeling down yesterday as she struggled to get one of her children to learn something that's being taught at school. It got me thinking about what we tend to focus on as parents and teachers.

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Which is more important...

Being able to read a book or being able to love others?

Knowing how to tie your shoes or knowing how to hold the door for the person behind you?

Knowing you can count by 3s or knowing you can count on the people around you?

Holding in the tears when a silly little thing gets you down or being able to pour out tears when compassion moves you?

Picking up a math book to learn the next step or picking up a friend when she's fallen down?

Time spent at a desk or time spent with family and friends?

Playing that piano piece perfectly or playing What Time is it Mr. Wolf with all your cousins?

Pleasing your teacher or pleasing God?

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I'm sure I could go on, but you get the idea. We have the world around us telling us what should be important, from the moment our child enters this world to well past the moment they leave our homes. Instead of worrying about what they haven't yet mastered (after all, who by worrying can add a day to his life?) it's good to remind ourselves of the things that really matter to us in this brief, temporal life.

So keep at it, weary Moms and Dads! In those moments when you feel inadequate, remember that you are the Mom or Dad that God put in this child's life, and you are there for a reason. Don't beat yourself up for what you haven't yet taught your child. Remind yourself of the good you've done, and the learning that *has* been accomplished, and use that as fuel to keep you going.