Backstory
Don’t you just love it when you tell one of your children how things will be – and then they are? That’s what happened with this story.
My daughter wanted me to convey all my motherly knowledge. She wanted it all at hand, the moment her baby was born. I could tell that she was prepared to be a mom who would be far superior to the last generation of bumbling parents
I smiled inside. But outside, I gave advice, told stories, and tried to fill her cup to overflowing with maternal wisdom.
This story was written after she came back with a response to one of the predictions I gave her that came true.
Only Then Understand
My daughter was expecting her firstborn. They were thrilled beyond words. I was fortunate to have time to spend with her during her pregnancy when we could just think and marvel at the miracle happening to her.
As we sat on the swing one summer evening, I confided to her, “One of these days, you will be rocking your beautiful, perfect child. . . and suddenly, something will occur to you, about your own mother.
It will finally sink in why your mother was strict and demanding and protective and all the things you didn’t want her to be. You’ll realize . . . It was not because she was mean or out to ruin your life, as you may have thought at the time. It was all done out of the kind of love you now feel for your own child. Only then will you understand how much YOU were loved.”
A few months later, she called me, tears in her voice. “Mom,” she said, “Tonight it happened. I was rocking the baby and looking at his beautiful face…and thinking how much I love him . . . I suddenly understood how much you loved me. Thank you, mom, thank you so much for loving me SO MUCH.”
Is it all worth it . . . what you go through to be a mother? Oh yes, oh yes, indeed!
P.S. Of course, I had to smile after this call from my daughter. I was so glad she called to share the fact that she had experienced what I predicted.
Imagine how many things happen in the lives of our children that we predicted. Our advice or sharing may have helped them – or perhaps caused them pain. We are so influential, it’s a huge responsibility. One that never ends.
[Show #05-290]
One of great benefits of raising children is living to watch them raise their children. Sometimes I hear them quoting me. Sometimes I see them implementing things I tried with them. Such a sense of accomplishment and completeness. Great audio article.