When Penny asked me to post a blog about being a mom several weeks ago, I asked my girls to answer a couple of questions for me. One of the questions I asked them was if they knew another family that they wished they had been born into instead of ours - dodged a bullet there - they both said no. But when I asked them what they liked best about being in our family I didn't get the answers I expected. It wasn't that I was a great mom or Robin was a great dad. It wasn't that we live in a great place or that we went on some neat vacations. It wasn't even that we had family meetings and voted on things. (Although, when reminded, they did think that was cool.)
The things the girls found most important to my grown girls is that we have family traditions that have been passed down from their grandparents. These traditions encompass nearly every holiday of the year. Rules about holidays are not to be broken lightly. And, most important tothem was that our family was known to their friends as a giving and generous family. Funny, we didn't know that.
What I learned about holiday rules are you have to make them in the positive. The girls can tell you all the holiday rules except Halloween. I have a personal issue with this holiday, you can ask me about it sometime, so our rule was that we didn't celebrate it. We did different things every year. I always took the girls out of school for the day and we did something special - but the girls can't remember this holiday rule because I always stated it in what we DIDN'T DO. The things you learn when you get old!
The kids say one of the biggest reasons their friends thought we were generious was because we always let them have soda at our house, or taking them to Burger King. You just never know the perspective a child has - the things you learn when you get old!
When my children were small I spent every minute I could trying to make memories for them. Now they are grown and those memories I made with them are some of the best memories of MY life. Who knows how those memories will stack up in their book of memories; but I know both of my girls treasure making memories - it is a value I believe I have taught well.
Generation to generation there is great wisdom and help available from both those who have walked our path before and those who see the journey from a fresh new perspective. This blog is to help connect the generational wisdom needed to be the best wives, mothers, daughters, grandmothers, friends and mentors that we can be...from a Biblical perspective. Join the conversation!
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