When I Grow Up

I’m Back

After taking a break from blogging while traveling with my family, I’m back! We returned last week, but it took me a while to settle back in and help the boys readjust as well. Remember those tantrums we talked about a few weeks ago?  Well after returning from a long vacation, they are at a high!  The whining, the bickering, and the tantrums have all led me to hand over the boys to my husband for a few minutes and find a quiet place (my bedroom) to steal away and write.

Every summer, we are blessed to be able to travel home to see my family in Wisconsin. We spend a few weeks at my parent’s house and catch up with aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. These are some of my favorite weeks of the year, and I think my husband and sons would agree!

As lucky number 7 of 8 kids, I’ve always enjoyed being a part of a big family. I enjoy it even more now than I did when I was growing up, probably because I no longer live in the same house as my siblings. As an adult, I love watching my brothers as dads, I look forward to spending time with my sisters, I adore my in-laws, and I love catching up and playing with my nieces and nephews. Watching my sons interact with their cousins is amazing and priceless! I long for the day when we live closer to family so that they can spend more time with their cousins throughout the year!

But my favorite thing about going home, is being able to spend time with my parents and for the boys to have time with their Nana and Papa. It’s the best! They spoil us rotten and ensure we have the best vacation every single year. I could brag about my parents for days because they are some of the most generous and kind individuals I know.  They are generous with their time, their talents, and their resources. I cannot remember a time in my life when they weren’t intentionally seeking opportunities to serve others.

My Mom

After this most recent trip, I’ve decided that when I grow up, I want to be just like my mom. My dad is incredible too so this is not to say I don’t want to be like him. As my mom would say, “her compliment is not his insult!” And actually, growing up I remember telling people that I wanted to be my dad’s secretary some day so that I could work with him. But now as a mom, I want nothing more than to be just like my mom.

I call my mom almost every day, sometimes more than once in a day, and she never sounds annoyed or bothered. She listens to me complain and grumble about things, she counsels me when I need advice, she encourages me when I’m frustrated, she cheers me on when I’m doing something right, and most importantly, she prays for me! I didn’t realize how much I needed those prayers until I was an adult. I appreciate every single one of our phone calls and love that she’s willing to be my sounding board.

Not only do I want to be just like my mom as a mother, but I also hope to be just like my mom as a grandma someday! My mom goes out of her way to make countless special memories with her 17 and counting grandchildren. She takes them on fun “adventures,” lets them make messes they don’t have to clean, gives them Cinnamon Toast Crunch for breakfast every morning, and takes them on night walks. They think she’s the coolest and I’d have a agree with her!

A Tradition of Values

It’s no secret where my mom gets these qualities from. She got it from her momma of course 😉 My grandma is equally as amazing as my mom and I’m so blessed to continue to spend time with her loving, witty self each summer. I feel so grateful that my grandma passed these values down to my mom and that her mom passed them down to her.  I’m grateful that I grew up with so many godly female role models in my life including these women as well as my other grandmother, my aunts, and my older sisters, sister-in-laws, and cousins.

The focus of my blog is to discuss ways to raise our sons and daughters to be mighty warriors.  Part of my passion for this topic comes from the gratitude I feel for the home I was raised in.  While I may or may not someday have a daughter to pass these lessons down to, I have four sons who I pray seek wives with these qualities.

So why do I want to be like my mom, my grandmas, my aunts, my sisters, and my cousins when I grow up? Because I want to share the love of Jesus in a kind, compassionate way. I want to pray for and encourage others, meeting them where they are in that moment. I want to be accepting of everyone and seek out opportunities to get to know others who aren’t like me. I want to be intentional in generously serving those around me. I want to listen intently to those who come to me to be heard. I want to put everything else aside to be in the moment with my family and love them fiercely. I want others who haven’t had the same experience as me as a daughter/granddaughter/niece/sister/cousin to know what it’s like to have a loving, caring cheerleader in every season of life.

Going Forward

My prayer is that I become more like these women every day.  I pray that my sons place value on these qualities as they (in the very far-off future) begin to date.  I pray that girls who do not have a female role model in their own home are able to find one in their community to lead them in His ways.  And I pray that I NEVER take for granted the beautiful women I’m surrounded by who have prepared me in my role as a wife and mother, especially my own mom!

And now, I’ll wait for a call from my mom saying how embarrassed she is that I posted all of this about her, because did I mention that she’s also incredibly humble?!? I love you, Mom!

Let’s raise His Mighty Warriors TOGETHER!