Mom, Now I Understand

I've come to the conclusion that as much time, energy, sweat, tears and thought I put into parenting, my princesses don't really care.

I have spent hours talking with the hubs about our girls, working through situations that arise with them.  Carefully taking into consideration their unique personalities, ages and make up.  We discuss strategies in discipline, how to help them make wise decisions, how to approach each of them when they need correction.

We specifically construct their day so they have the right amount of creative outlets, opportunities to play and times to just relax.

I labor over recipes and decide on menus that give them a balance of nutritional food and we drive right by the drive throughs these days.

I think about their futures, I pray for them that they would have wisdom, discernment and grace.  I pray the same for their future spouses and families.  I consider how life might play out for them, and strive to equip each of them with the right amount of knowledge, experience and courage to face it all.

I do all this because I am their mother, and I want to do a good job for them.  I love them, I want the best for them, and I know it's my responsibility to give them wings so they can fly.

Clearly, this consumes much of my thought about my daughters.

So it's a bit humbling to realize that right now, at ages 8, 5, 3 and 1:  they really could care less that I do all this.  From their perspective, the only criteria for a good mom is that she always carries gum in her purse.

And that's ok.  How many times did I hear my own mother say to me, "Someday when you're a mother, you'll understand."?

So I'll continue to do all the things I do behind the scenes.  The so very important things that my princesses may never know about.  I'll do it without thanks, without acknowledgment, without accolade, because that's what a mother does.

And someday, they'll understand.

In the meantime, I'll be sure to always carry gum.