by ProudScHeritage

Created on: February 26, 2007   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

Being a mother is a struggle period. From day one, we learn to accept the fact that no matter what we do, someone has an opinion and they don't mind expressing it. Regardless of how it may make us feel. We must make sure our children get to the doctor to get their check ups and all their vaccines. We read tons and tons of parenting material to learn what's recommended as the best for our kids, regardless of the issue. But when we hit a crossroads where that information we absorbed might be useful, it never happens the way it does for everyone else so we still have to make an informed logical decision to the best of our abilities- which is always influenced by what is best for our child.And guess what, we know our kids better than anyone else, therefore, our decisions our best for our kids and not everyone else's so its ok if our situation didn't follow the text book articles.

We have to decide how to teach these children right from wrong, yes from no, dangerous and not throughout their lifetime. Parenting doesn't stop when they turn 18. They will always have a ton of questions about school, college, romances, heartaches, decorating and fashion do's and don'ts whether we have any fashion sense or not. Our opinions will always be the biggest influences on our children's lives and their decision's. Do what we say and not as we do just isn't appropriate when trying to raise a child because it never fails to backfires.
Although children aren't born with an instruction manual contrary to the fact that most of us wish they did, we get to know them, learn their reactions and their personalities over years of struggles through every lifespans experiences. Little boys climb trees and play ball, little girls play with Barbie's and dress up. They learn to ride bikes and scrap their knees and elbows and we are the ones they come to. We are there to coax them through that first boyfriend/girlfriend and that heart shattering break up, Unless we found the wisdom of words to avoid it all together. We are there when they think they have found their soul mate, and the jitters, the nausea they face when the time comes for them to pop the question, accept the proposal, and walk down the aisle. And we cry. We are there for those first fights and to offer the advice-choose the battles worth fighting over. Life is to short to argue over the silly things. We hold their hands and offer as much advice as our child seeks when they are ready to have a child of their own. They come to us with the same parenting questions we asked our parents. It is us, that our children come to for security and knowledge and it is us who must keep their best interest in mind,not our own. Which by the time they become adults, we've long ago learned that our best interest is no longer a priority it is theirs.
Although being a parent and raising a child through the stages of life is a struggle all on its own, every single moment is worth the tears, the arguments, the discipline and grounding. It's worth realizing that you and your significant other made this child.

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