New Mom Advice

I was recently asked to write down words of encouragement for a mom to be.  Some of this I have written before, but “it bears repeating”.   I do not have it all figured out.  I am not one to “go to” for all parenting advice.  I am just a mom, trying to do my best for the girls that the Lord gave me.  My goal as a mom is to REAR them FOR Him, to do His work.

Enjoy EVERY moment.  Even the sick days.   Take those  moments to snuggle and forget about the house work.

Spilled milk and temper tantrums need TIME.   Take the time to stop and talk.   Nothing is more important than showing love.

Talk to her!   All the time! Ask questions and REALLY listen.   Answer EVERYTHING!  Even the tough questions.  Be honest.

Trust your “mom gut”.  The best parenting advice that I was ever given was,  “Don’t listen to parenting advice.”  Trust yourself.   You are her mom and the Lord trusted YOU to be her mom, and only YOU.   No other mom, for this little girl, would be better than you.

Memorize the toes and fingers, because one day those 10 tiny fingers and 10 tiny toes may be the ones holding you up and helping you walk across the floor.

You will have bad days, and REALLY bad days.  Tomorrow will be better.

Be ready for blow OUTS, and blow UPS.   Both take time and love.

Remember as you are wiping noses and cleaning up the same mess every day that you are raising a lady to love the Lord.   Your actions mean more than your words.   Raise her to be Christ – like.   Raise her to be better than you.

Get in the Word EVERY DAY.   Even if it’s with her in your arms.    Keep your focus on the Lord, and the rest will fade away.   He will get you through the bad days,  and He will be with you during the good days.

Pray!  Pray a lot!  Pray for her. Pray for her future spouse. Pray for your patience.   Just Pray.  Teach her to pray.

The PERFECT mom…she doesn’t exist!  The perfect MOM FOR YOUR LITTLE GIRL….Well, she’s in the mirror staring back.  She’s still growing and learning and changing and praying everyday!

Deuteronomy 11:18-19   (NIV)

18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.