Admittedly, there is nothing that brings the Spirit into a home quite like a newborn baby does. Their pure spirits having just left his or her Eternal Parents are angelic and their eyes seem to look into eternity. They exude love. They are love. Everything they see and hear and smell and taste and feel they experience for the first time. Parental joy seems complete when their baby looks into their face and smiles for the first time. Every milestone is remarkable and looked forward to with joy and anticipation.
In addition to the elation there are sleepless nights, lots of messes and feedings and nose wipes. Lots of tears--which, incidentally, don't ever go away. There are illnesses and immunizations and doctor visits. Not to mention potty training. Babies are the best way to enter this existence. They make the adults around them weaker and stronger at the same time. Those babies grow and grow and grow. Until one day they are teenagers. It took a long time, yet in a blink of an eye there they were.
Tonight I sent 7 teenage boys out my door to a seminary dance. While only two of them are the fruit of my own womb, the other 5 have a place in my heart. Most of them I have known for almost as long as I have known my own children. All seven of them have had their struggles. Their other mothers and I have shared tears over them. We have also shed tears of joy and gratitude for the spirits that they are.
They are kind and good, as trite as that may sound. They support one another and work out their differences. They have each other's back and take the "wing man" (the one who helps to bring a girl's eye to one who would like to catch it) role when needed. They have all helped me unload the car after a Costco trip. They have all eaten dinner here and cleaned up after themselves. They are gracious.
Spencer worked hard all summer saving up money to purchase speakers and other equipment to begin a DJ business. He was showing me his newest purchase as the other boys filed in one by one ready for the dance. I was feeling proud of his efforts and grateful that he wants to share it with me.
Taylor has worked hard all summer brushing up on some math skills that he has missed out on from missing so much school over the years. Stake dances have been hard for him. He is shy, isn't a fan of crowds, and has no idea how to talk to a girl. I heard some good news tonight from one of his brothers from a different mother. He told me that Taylor had been asking him how to talk to girls. Spencer had heard nothing of that until Matt told him. We have to be very delicate how we approach this with him, probably waiting for him to say something first! That is unbelievably happy news. He looked sharp when he left for the dance tonight.
I love watching my boys grow into who they are. I love that even though the are so different, they are best friends. They genuinely care about each other and enjoy spending time together.
Just like babies had many things to learn, my teenagers have many things to learn. I enjoy my roll as more of an adviser. They get to make choices and learn the consequences of them. I get to share and encourage and lead by example, but my parenting mantra comes from Joseph Smith, "We teach them correct principles and let them govern themselves." They are learning to do just that and I couldn't be more proud.
In addition to the elation there are sleepless nights, lots of messes and feedings and nose wipes. Lots of tears--which, incidentally, don't ever go away. There are illnesses and immunizations and doctor visits. Not to mention potty training. Babies are the best way to enter this existence. They make the adults around them weaker and stronger at the same time. Those babies grow and grow and grow. Until one day they are teenagers. It took a long time, yet in a blink of an eye there they were.
Tonight I sent 7 teenage boys out my door to a seminary dance. While only two of them are the fruit of my own womb, the other 5 have a place in my heart. Most of them I have known for almost as long as I have known my own children. All seven of them have had their struggles. Their other mothers and I have shared tears over them. We have also shed tears of joy and gratitude for the spirits that they are.
They are kind and good, as trite as that may sound. They support one another and work out their differences. They have each other's back and take the "wing man" (the one who helps to bring a girl's eye to one who would like to catch it) role when needed. They have all helped me unload the car after a Costco trip. They have all eaten dinner here and cleaned up after themselves. They are gracious.
Spencer worked hard all summer saving up money to purchase speakers and other equipment to begin a DJ business. He was showing me his newest purchase as the other boys filed in one by one ready for the dance. I was feeling proud of his efforts and grateful that he wants to share it with me.
Taylor has worked hard all summer brushing up on some math skills that he has missed out on from missing so much school over the years. Stake dances have been hard for him. He is shy, isn't a fan of crowds, and has no idea how to talk to a girl. I heard some good news tonight from one of his brothers from a different mother. He told me that Taylor had been asking him how to talk to girls. Spencer had heard nothing of that until Matt told him. We have to be very delicate how we approach this with him, probably waiting for him to say something first! That is unbelievably happy news. He looked sharp when he left for the dance tonight.
I love watching my boys grow into who they are. I love that even though the are so different, they are best friends. They genuinely care about each other and enjoy spending time together.
Just like babies had many things to learn, my teenagers have many things to learn. I enjoy my roll as more of an adviser. They get to make choices and learn the consequences of them. I get to share and encourage and lead by example, but my parenting mantra comes from Joseph Smith, "We teach them correct principles and let them govern themselves." They are learning to do just that and I couldn't be more proud.
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