Parenting

Raising children is not an easy thing to do. You talk with your children, plead with them, cajole them and pray for them. Sometimes you just aren't sure that you are equal to the task of helping them realize their potential. I am still early in my parenting journey, but I have definitely worried about my kids. I worry how they will turn out and what they will remember about their childhood. My parents still have the same concerns and they have been parenting a lot longer than I have. So how do you know how you are doing as a parent?

One way that I measure my parenting is how I hear the kids act and speak when they don't think I am around. Recently, I overheard Grace telling Caleb that he is part of our family and he can do hard things. When I heard her say that, I was so happy. At least one of my parenting messages was getting through to Grace. I have realized I have to celebrate the victories whenever they come. 

Tonight I celebrated a different victory. As Ruth was falling asleep, she got out of bed, curled up on the floor, put her arm around the basketball in the girls' room and fell asleep. She was holding the basketball in her sleep. 

Now that is a sign of a kid that is being well raised.