I’ve been a mama for nearly fourteen years, but my momma heart was shaped long before my first pregnancy. I began working with teenage girls in youth group before I was even married. As a new bride, I arrived at a boarding school community with my teacher-husband, as we both shared a passion for engaging with teens on a daily basis.
It seems God wired me with a desire to impact in the next generation long before I knew what that would look like in my life.
More than 16 years later, and we are still serving in the same school community. And to be honest, my mothering is most certainly a reflection of what I’ve learned from those we serve and are served by in this place. Without a doubt, mentoring teen girls is certainly what God has used to set my focus and vision for raising our children.
Even so, motherhood — especially in the early years — was never easy for me.
I struggled in the dying-to-self-demands of caring for little ones. I pulled myself up by my bootstraps through those trying toddler years of tantrums and cutting up food into tiny little pieces, again and again and again.
There were days I thought I wouldn’t survive and I wasted hours wishing away the moment while dreaming about tomorrow.
And now tomorrow is here, and I am left wondering what happened to yesterday?
I have a feeling as this Mother’s Day approaches and I work behind the scenes in preparation for the next ticket sales for the Raising Generations Today Conference, I’ll be thinking about this more and more. When did I become old enough to plan a conference for moms where I get to speak about mentoring teens, and at the same time begin a new project writing a book for girls and the women who love them? {By the way, I’d love to have you join my Jump Sister group as I embark on this adventure!}
Today is here and life in the trenches of motherhood is still hard.
The momma drama, which I share about at The Better Mom today, has the potential to put me over the edge, even with my new perspective. As I look at my teen eye to eye, I’m reminded that we only have a few years left together — I’m sharing about this motherhood reality at Mandy’s blogaversy celebration today, too! My girl will be gone before I know it.
But praise God that even in this sanctifying, sometimes really challenging journey of motherhood, I am learning to soak it up every moment.
Today is the time to enjoy being a mom, even with the drama that comes with the journey.
Moms, how will you enjoy that journey today?
