We are happy to announce Kiefer will be awarded his Eagle Scout award on April 30th. It's great to finally have him reach this point, it has been a long, almost painful process. He is a great kid, but slower than molasses. I don't think of myself as being on a snail's pace, and so it's been a struggle to figure out how to motivate him. I still don't really know the best way. In truth I think at this point it's something he has to figure out for himself. Why is it the years from 14-18 contain such crucial, life changing decisions and responsibilities? They have no clue about how much of an impact these years have on their futures, everything from choices in colleges to being eligible to go on a mission hinge on the decisions they make in these turbulent years.
It's a wacky thing when the craziest time in a persons life is one of the most defining times. How do they get through it safely? That's all I really want. I want each of my children to emerge unscathed from this turbulent roller coaster ride. I know that's not possible, but can we just make sure the dings they get aren't life altering? I don't want his 9th grade math grade to determine what college he gets into. I don't want a moment of wanting acceptance to mean they can't serve a mission. Most of all I don't want some lack in my parenting, some oversight, some miscalculation, to mean they didn't learn what they needed to make it through. There's so much to teach and so little time.
In just 4 1/2 years Kiefer will be on a mission for our church. That's all the time I have left? That can't possibly be right! And yet, I know the time for most of the teaching has already passed. The time that he has left in our home is really just time for him to refine who he is. Time for him to decide what is important to him, and time for him to decide what direction he'll head in.
I know it's not all lost with one misstep, and I am thankful there is always a bridge back to where we should be. I just wish with all my mother's heart that none of my children ever needed that bridge. And I'm thankful I can teach them about that bridge, and introduce them to the bridgemaker, our Savior Jesus Christ.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
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2 comments:
Beautifully said. Allowing our children to be themselves can be more of a refining for ourselves than them at times. Keifer being slower than you would like can teach valuable lessons in patience. I often have to remind myself to celebrate their strengths, and allow them to "be". Such a well written entry to remind us of our gifts of being their mother.
Well said. Although, after our discussion yesterday I am worrying a bit more today . . . .
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