All Grown Now

"The days are long the years are short", is a refrain oft repeated by older women whose children have grown, to the younger mothers who are in the thick of the day to day busy life of parenting. The cleaning, the feeding, the running from one activity to another, the homeschool lessons or homework help of those in schools, the laundry, the... well you get the idea, you've likely lived it.

My view is currently from the looking back on how short those years really were. Though the parenting does continue but in entirely different form. I am blessed to have three adult children who consult with my husband and myself on a number of life choices. Sometimes we have wise counsel for them and sometimes we don't but we are both always honored that they respect us enough to seek our input.

Though I am looking back on the intensive years of raising children, I have not stopped thinking about the importance of hands on parenting, about the choices I see as most beneficial for families then and now. I have not stopped considering how I can help to provide benefits for a larger community through our family's experience and influence. 

I spent the very early years of parenting learning and enjoying the process of natural birth and breastfeeding my babies. Oh what beautiful, challenging and empowering days those were. Seeing my children thrive while allowing God's design unfold before us as a family was pure joy. With wise healthcare practitioners as advisors and a found tribe of other mothers following similar paths we shared and grew and learned. All those choices lead eventually to homeschooling our children. I wasn't about to let some arbitrary institution damage all that I saw flourishing in my family.

I often thought about writing about parenting and my mothering experiences as they were happening with young ones, but then finding time to do so was difficult. When I did have the inspiration and find the time to write, it seemed to take me out of living the life in the moments with my family. These days that is how I sometimes feel about taking time to document and post about our lives on social media.

Writing comes more easily now, looking back on the experiences and choices, it doesn't take me out of the immediate moment as much from this distant view. I still feel compelled to share what I learned. I still believe it is important to encourage those who are in the thick of  the bustle and business of parenting. Those are often the times that the big picture isn't so big and it's just about getting through the day. A kind reminder can be useful in the midst of the thick of it. From here what matters can be seen more readily, what has and will create a lasting bond and how building a loving gang of your own can contribute to the world.