Nate at the Under the Seas exhibit at Crown Center
Recently, I must have been making the comment, "It's hard to be a mom" and "I'm not perfect" out loud, because last week Nate and I were sitting in the family room and he was doing something that I was not too happy about. I said, "Nate, why are you doing that??" He stopped, sighed and looked straight at me and said, "Mom, it's hard to be a kid. I'm not perfect." Oh goodness.
I cannot tell you how many times something that I have said has been said RIGHT back to me by Nate. Kids are naturally observant and are just like sponges but you do NOT realize it until these things are said back to you. It's hard to know sometimes if you are really training your child up right or if they are just catching onto all of your quirks, attitudes, and weaknesses. As much as I babysat growing up and spent a ton of time around kids in some of my past jobs, NOTHING could have prepared me for becoming a mom to my own child. It's different hanging out with someone else's child. But, my OWN, everyday. Sometimes I am overwhelmed (in a good way) of how much God has entrusted me.
Our LifeGroup recently started reading a book called Spiritual Parenting by Michelle Anthony. I have really enjoyed this book and look forward to purchasing her children's book, The Big God Story. Both have been amazing guides to understanding the amazing story of God and to know what our roles are as parents in this Big God Story (this is a total plug to her books and I am not even getting endorsed for it! haha!)
So, last week, there was a chapter on service and Michelle talked about how she changed the word "chores" to "Acts of Service" in her house. The word 'chores' can be thought of as work or negative...I mean who wants to do chores??? Although, usually we will all do something if we know we are getting reimbursed financially or with a great reward for our hard efforts. But, do we really want our children just to do something ONLY if they are getting money or a reward? Basically she wanted her children to understand that everyone in the house needed to serve and help pitch in to get everything done. And, as Christians, one of our roles IS to serve. She challenged her children (and everyone reading the book) to ask the question "What needs to be done?" every time they enter a room. We have not started instilling this question into Nate yet BUT we have been making comments and will definitely be putting up an Acts of Service chart in our house in the near future. However, it really is amazing at what they will pick up on...
The other morning Nate came into our room to wake us up. He crawled into bed and said his good mornings as Bo was whining in the background. Nate laid down by Daddy and proceeded to say, "Mommy, let Bo out. He's whining." Well, out of routine, it usually IS me that lets him out in the morning but I was NOT going to be TOLD to do this 'act of service' by my 3 1/2 year old when he is so very capable of doing it himself. SO, I proceeded to tell HIM, "Why do I have to do it? He's your dog too. If something needs to be done, then do it." And, with that he murmured (with a little huffing)..."FINE," as he jumped out of bed and said, "Come on BO!"
I happily snuggled back under the covers and enjoyed that special moment of being a parent. I'm not perfect, nor will I ever be, but thank God He is.
This past year I was asked to be an Awana Cubbies Director at church. I had absolutely NO idea what this really entailed but found out right away that it was a BIG role! However, even though it has added responsibility and quite a time commitment to my plate, I have REALLY enjoyed it. It has been such a blessing to me to be able to be a part of this amazing program and to see kids, at such a young age, really 'get it'. It is so much more than going to church and being a 'good person'. It is about Christ and what HE did for us on earth, on the cross, and now in heaven. 
