Parenting - Parenting: The Road I Chose

Parenting: The Road I Chose

Tripping over the shoes and toys that seem to clutter my living room floor on a constant basis, just seems to be part of the game of parenting. I realize it doesn't have to be that way. I could spend my time picking up after the little hon-yocks, and screaming at them to do their chores, but it's more fun my way. (I never know where I'm going to land.)

A night of walking over hot wheels and leggos has special meaning for me, and I doubt I will ever forget the night of the little tykes tractor story, but life does have a purpose - and for me that purpose is in the form of children. It's the loving, the kisses, the hugging, the owies, and all the problems and hassles of parenthood, as well as the joys of being a mother. Nothing else compares.

I can't imagine life without my *treasures* or living without the fun of parenting teenagers, toddlers, and tweens, and yet somehow I can imagine that life without them, for someone who never had children is pretty much the same as mine - FULL and SATISFYING. My friends who don't have children seem to find ways to utilize the spirit of nurturing that God gave them, and it seems to give them pleasure in the same way.

I meet people throughout life who have children who do not feel the need or desire to be fully involved parents and I wonder if they realize what they are missing. But, when I share the joys of parenting with them, they just don't understand. So, I suppose there are those among us who just don't get it, but for those, I'm sure God has a plan somewhere in his massive order of life to satisfy. I just really wonder what that plan could be.

For me, the oatmeal kisses, band aide covered knees, broken trophies of my past, and scattered clutter are all made worth it by the years of love and honor that my children bestow up on me in the single moment when they proudly introduce me as mom.

Jan Verhoeff is a business consultant who specializes in the development of new businesses throughout the Greater Great Plains States. She educates business owners in the process of developing business and marketing plans for their businesses that will encourage them to set and meet productive business goals.

She is the author of a variety of articles published in a variety of business and trade publications throughout the USA.

Visit her blog at http://coffeeclatter.blogspot.com

She may be reached by phone at 719-336-4036 or by email at: janverhoeff@yahoo.com.

Baby's First Year | Baby Care | Pregnancy Info | Weddings & Honeymoons | Baby Care Info

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 |

Guide Your Kids! This 3-d Map Leads To Character
A tall, weary-looking mother with glasses, walked into my counseling office with her 10-year-old-daughter. The mother frowned at me and sat down. "Oh-oh!" I th...(related: Parenting)

Entering Their Imaginative World
In dealing with children with autism spectrum disorders, its all about relationship. These children are within a realm where they feel and respond much differently than others. There has been much focus on trying to eliminate certain behaviors or to evoke particular responses in children which actually become rote and repetitive for them without context. One of the goals in aiding these children should be in helping them find meaning. In order to do this we must be willing to not look at the child as broken, unable to respond, or even unable to communicate. These children DO communicate, however they are not always able to manipulate their senses to communicate in the typical ways of other children. As a result, they can become easily frustrated and trapped. The therapist must enter their imaginativ...(related: Parenting)

Where Is Your Homework, Lisa?
Is Homework Really That Important?Dear Friends,I no longer teach in public schools, but for what seems like 100 years, I did. During my long career, I did the best I knew how to do at the time, based on where I was in life, and what I had learned about teaching.In parenting and teaching both, however, we sometimes learn things too late. If only I could go back, I would do many things differently. One thing I would handle differently would be homework.Today, I?m going to address an issue that raises the hair on the heads of many people:...(related: Parenting)

Humans And Their Innate Need For Drug Stimulation
We know that ancient cultures and Indians and the like across the globe used such mind-altering drugs to alter their states. Still today in the world we have whole cultures enslaved to drugs of some type. Heroine, Opium, Peyote, Marijuana, Cocaine, it almost appears to be a human issue, a need. Most who study such believe that since the addictions affect the frontal lobes that the it also affe...(related: Parenting)

Teenagers And Trouble - How Parents Can Keep Their Teens Out Of Trouble
Teenagers are a work-in-progress, and parenting teenagers can be tricky business. Many kids get into some kind of trouble at some point, and, although this can provide them a powerful learning opportunity, taking a "kids will be kids" attitude is downright irresponsible p...(related: Parenting)

5 Ways To Help Your Kids Do Math
Uh oh.Your kids arrive home with their school reports and it'spoor marks from the math department. Now what do you do?You may not be a math teacher, but thankfully there are waysyou can help your kids improve their grades.Studies have show...(related: Parenting)

Is Your Child Learning Nothing?
You send your child to school and the teachers teach them. If that is what you think, you could be way wrong !

While most teachers are good at presenting information to a class, learning happens ONLY if kids actually want to learn. Teachers may have little time f...(related: Parenting)

Think Like Your Kids - And Understand Them More!
Seven-year old Michael was on a school trip to a WildlifeCentre in Central Scotland. It was near the end of the day and they were in the Gift Shop before boarding the bus for the journey home.Poor Michael! He couldn't resist the array of lollipops andchocolate animals that beckoned to him. He chose one and wasabout to pay for it with his last few pennies.His teacher, a kindly soul with not long before retirement,noticed him. "Have you bought something for your Mum yet,Michael?"Michael lowered his head in shame! Gently, the teacher tookthe candy bar from him and replaced it on the shelf.She walked to another display and selected a small figuremade from cheap plastic. "Why not take this for her? You'vegot just enough money left."Years have now pa...(related: Parenting)