Family Relationships: They Start Young

"Thank you Mommy, you're my friend!"

The little girl's request had been granted, and she was elated. She reached for a hug before going to play, but her mothers' words stopped her as she pulled back from the quick embrace.


"No, I'm not your friend, just your mommy." was her almost sharp reply.

The words sent a pang to my heart. Why was it that this mother felt she and her young daughter could not be friends? My mama and I have long been friends - since I was able to converse. 
Of course, that that relationship has changed ever the years. It's blossomed and bloomed into a close-knit friendship, very different than when I was three, or even thirteen. 
We are dear and close friends.

Some may scoff that such a thing is even possible, while others are relieved that their child keeps his or her distance. Who wants to spend time with someone that wild and unruly anyway? Still others, long for that, but don't know how to find it.
The best way is to start young.

Be there for your child. Love them unconditionally, and realize that there is more to parenting than training and discipline. I have seen relationships broken because a parent cannot seem to love their child unconditionally, and see them as another human, with real and true feelings.
Be their friend, keep their secrets, love them for who they are, and build a solid foundation when they are young, so that there is something for the relationship to stand on when the going gets rough. Because at some point or another, it will, and that's part of living in a fallen world. I've seen those that have a good relationship, and lose it somewhere along the way. It  takes work to repair a broken relationship. My own relationships are far from perfect.

I'd like to be able to tell you that relationships with your children are that simple, and everything can be fine and rosy, but I can't. We are all sinners, far from perfect, and in need of a Savior. We all make mistakes, and that's where we have to learn to give and receive grace.

But I am thankful, SO thankful, that my mama has always loved me, and has always been my friend.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Menu Monday: Trim healthy Waffles - E

Image
You may have noticed that I didn't post a Menu Monday last week...the week before was super busy, and I forgot to take a picture of anything to share with you.  I sincerely hope that you forgive me. Well, okay, I unsincerly hope that you forgive me.  I really truly do hope that you didn't mind too much though.  I'll stop while I'm ahead. The recipe for this week is designed to only serve two people. Or one person twice. Normally I post recipes magnified greatly, because that's how much food that I actually make. For those who don't know me, I have 8 siblings. 3 of them are boys between the ages of 11 and 15. They eat. A lot. This recipe is different because it's a thm recipe, and only two of  us are are doing thm..The last Menu Monday post had adaptations included to make it a thm S meal.  If you are wondering what in the world thm is, it stands for Trim Healthy Mama . Look it up. I've included a link. Maybe someday I'll do a whole p
Read more
October. It's infant loss awareness month. And today, October 15th specifically, is infant loss awareness day. It's a good day, because for so many, the loss of a baby is a silent pain, one that isn't talked about. In having a day like this, however sad it is, we can maybe allow others into our circle of grief, and at the same time, comfort them in theirs.  For us, October is a month that we should have a birthday, but we don't.  You see, we should be celebrating a first birthday this October.  But we're not.  And furthermore, if we were celebrating that first birthday, we wouldn't have our Mercy girl. Mercy Grace, we joke, since her middle name, Anna, means Grace.  It's strange, this loss. We can't imagine life without her, but in order to have the lives we grieve, we couldn't have her. It's one or the other.  If we had Baby J, who would be one this month, we couldn't have Mercy. And likewise, if we had had Baby A, who would've
Read more

Menu Monday: Meatballs, Green Beans,and Cheesy Cauli

Image
It's  finally  starting to feel like fall in our neck of the woods, and hot, yummy foods like these are the best when temperatures drop below 80 degrees. Yes, that's what I mean by it feeling like Fall. No more 100+ degree weather. We hope. For all you THMs ( Trim Healthy Mamas ) out there: You will be happy to know that this meal is thm "S" approved, when using the alternative ingredients, listed in italics.     You're welcome. Meatballs: Ingredients: 5 pounds of hamburger 5 eggs 2 cups of breadcrumbs or 1 cup rolled oats, (ground/chopped), and 1 cup almond flour 1/2 cup dried, minced onion 2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce or 2 tablespoons vinegar, and 1/4 teaspoon each of chili powder, garlic powder, and cloves 1 tablespoon salt 1 1/2 teaspoons pepper Mix all together well, and form into ball of desired size (mine are 1 1/2-2 inches). Bake on ungreased baking sheet at 350 degrees until inside is no longer pink. These work very well for fre
Read more