Happy Mama's Day

Mama is an interesting word. It actually comes from Latin and means breast. Isn't it interesting that when we talk about mothers, one of the most familiar words we can use is a word that refers to the way a woman feeds her baby? Ask anybody what qualities a good mother should have, and the word "nurturing" will appear somewhere in the answer. Mothers nurture their children physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Physically 
For nine months a mother's body provides a safe place for baby to grow and develop. She is careful to care for him and nurture the life growing inside of her. As soon as that precious little one is born, she can continue nurturing him by providing the perfect food designed just for him. No formula envisioned or engineered by man can begin to provide the plethora of antibodies, antigens, enzymes, long-chain fatty acids, minerals and proteins that breastmilk contains.

Ideally for the first six months of baby's life, mom's milk will be his only source of nutrition, helping him grow into a chubby, smiling bundle of giggles. For the rest of his first year, his primary soruce of nutrition will still be his mother's milk. Many mothers choose to continue providing the nurture that only a mother can give at her breast well into toddlerhood or beyond.

Emotionally
Nobody can comfort, protect, encourage and edify a child the way that his mother can. Somehow with his head snuggled up against mother's breasts, everything is okay, and the world is a safe place for the time being. When a mother invests time and energy into her child's emotional development, he will have a strong foundation for facing whatever storms may come his way in life. The time you spend today playing with your toddler, reading to your preschooler, doing homework with your child, listening to him tell you about his day, encouraging his dreams and aspirations will pay rich dividends in the future.

Spiritually
Every child has a natural wonder and curiosity about the world around him. Mothers have the incredible privilege of introducing their impressionable children to the spiritual world all around us. Nobody has more of an impact on a young child than his mother. In the Bible, Moses' mother served as his nurse and taught him the rich history of the Jewish people and their God. Once he was weaned, he was brought up in Pharoah's house as a prince. However, he never forgot those lessons he learned at his mother's breast.

So to all mothers I say "Happy Mama's Day."  Keep up the good nurturing!

First Things First This Year

Let's face it, parents today are under tremendous time pressure. Mothers have a million things to do, and there are only so many hours in a day. Often in the middle of our crazy busy-ness, priorities get a bit muddled.

Yesterday as we were traveling from Huntsville to Orlando for the Capital One bowl (Christmas present for dh and ds), I was thinking through my goals for this year. I wrote them down and even put them on the desktop of my computer. I hope that having them there in front of me will help me be mindful of them even after the excitement of the New Year has worn off.

I have 4 goals in different areas, family and spiritual, business, personal, and household. But the first and most important goal is the one I want to talk about here. It says: "Daily time of prayer for each child and grandchild."

"A Mother's Love" by Ron DiCianni

I've always prayed for my children. When they were little (and not so little) we would have a "snuggle prayer" every night together where I would hold each child close as I prayed for him or her. I usually woke them up with a prayer, too. My youngest is now 13, and I still pray with him before bed many nights. But this goal is different. As my children are growing up, I am more and more aware of the vital importance of concentrated prayer for each one. I have four kids, ranging in age from 23 to 13, and each one has specific areas where I hope to see God work this year.

Praying for my children individually on a daily basis accomplishes several things. First, it helps me focus on each child's areas of weakness. As I pray, I believe the Lord gives me insights as a mother so I can better help each child (or young adult). It also forces me to objectively evaluate where each child is. I may see areas where I need to respond differently.  Finally, it unleashes the power of Heaven in my children's lives. The Bible is very clear about the power of fervent prayer. I long to see God at work in each one of their lives this year!

This year I will become a grandmother for the first time. I'm already praying for the precious little boy that my oldest daughter is carrying. Everybody says that being a grandmother is the most rewarding thing imaginable, and I can't wait to find out! But I know it already feels amazing to pray for him as I pray for his mama and daddy.

So I want to put first things first this year! Feel free to ask me how I'm doing with that when you see me! A little accountability isn't a bad thing at all.

Grandma Time

Since our move to our new location, our Grandma traffic has increased. I think it's because of our proximity to Victoria's Cafe, a perennial favorite with ladies of all ages in Huntsville! At any rate, I love it when ladies about my age come in and eagerly search for the perfect gift item. It's really fun to see their excitement about their grandbabies.

I love to engage them in conversation and hear all about the pregnant daughter or daughter-in-law, or the new baby who has just joined the family. Those who are grandmothers-to-be for the very first time joyfully anticipate stepping into this new season of life. They can't wait to be part of that baby's life.

And unfortunately, therein lies the problem for some new moms. Every mother wants the chance to parent her baby the way she feels is best. There is a lot of  information available today that wasn't available 20 or 30 years ago. What your mother or mother-in-law did may not be exactly what you want to do. Perhaps your mother-in-law didn't breastfeed and can't imagine why you want to. Every time your baby cries, she assumes he's hungry and urges you to give him formula. Or maybe your mother thinks you are spoiling your baby by wearing her and picking her up when she cries.

It is extremely challenging for a new mother to get conflicting advice on every side. While you don't want to alienate your mother or mother-in-law, you do want to help her understand your need to parent your way and, if necessary, learn from your own mistakes just like she did. There are several things you can do to reassure her that you want her to be part of your baby's life while simultaneously letting her know you need your space.

• If you're breastfeeding, give her a copy of an article written just for grandmothers about nursing
• If you are focused on having an attached relationship with your infant, and the grandmothers don't understand, Dr. Jim Sears has some helpful words
• Sometimes giving her something meaningful to do can help. Ask your parents or in-laws to focus on the legacy they leave as grandparents by encouraging them to chronicle their lives for your children in a special journal
• Write a letter affirming her and letting her know specifically how she can help you as a new mother
• Feel free to send (or bring) her to ANM where we'll gently affirm what a great job you're doing as a mom, and help Grandma relax a little bit.

Whether you're a mom or a grandma, remember that kind, encouraging words are wonderful building blocks for life-long relationships. Be sure to use plenty of them as you interact with the most important people in your life!