“The soul is healed by being with children.”― Fyodor Dostoevsky
Children are a message from God to the entire Universe that there is hope, life goes on, and that a better life is only one generation away.
My children are my treasure. I tell them that and when I met Dominic, I told him the same. I had no intention of settling for the sake of having a man and feeling loved. I had every intention of safeguarding my treasure.
Most of my greatest lessons have been learned through motherhood. Jordan renewed my sense of wonder, Kaitlin my playful spirit, Liliana reminded me that God is still doing miracles and that hugs are necessary, Gavin taught me that men are good when the seeds of goodness are planted in them, and Xavier that I am powerful when I am fully present.
If you have been reading my articles for a while, you know that I absolutely love being a mother. Motherhood is one of the most challenging, nerve wracking, inspiring, unpredictable and rewarding jobs on Earth.
Through parenting we have the opportunity to give our children love and understanding that we never had. However, there is a fine balance between giving our children what we never had and living vicariously through them. I am not a mother to heal childhood wounds, but inevitably as I fulfill the role of motherhood, I will find healing.
I firmly believe that while these little love nuggets come to us with their own gifts and purposes to be fulfilled, they are full of lessons we need to learn to become the best versions of ourselves. Are you paying attention? There are few experiences that stretch and grow you like raising children. It is difficult to ignore your temper, moodiness, selfishness when it is staring right back at you through a little chubby face that you made.
My children are as much for my growth as I am for theirs. The healing and wisdom I receive through parenting is in direct measure to my own openness to learn and grow.
Most of us have stood barefoot in the ocean. The waves ebb and flow methodically and sometimes we find ourselves knee deep in ocean water. I believe that healing in a similar fashion comes methodically in waves. We can only heal in proportion to our current ability to understand a situation. When a wave of understanding rushes you and you find yourself knee deep in an epiphany, this is another opportunity to forgive and heal anew. Seize these opportunities and show your children the path to a better life is through learning from the past and releasing it. When the generational baton is passed to your child, let it be one of building upon and not demolition.
These moments are fleeting and if you blink too fast, they will be gone. Innocence will soon give way to experience, and childhood fancy will become a memory. Another valuable lesson motherhood has taught me is that these children are on loan to me. I am to fill my children with as much love, wisdom and joy as I possibly can and send them on their way. They will not forever be mine as I will not be here forever to take care of them…such an emotional thought!
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“Love is a journey not a destination.”
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