Boy, I made mistakes. I had 2 children who were 15 1/2 months apart. I think we all made mistakes as we tried to do the best we could. We went to church as a family. I’m so thankful that we made it through!! Reply
I can look back and see decisions I made were not the right ones. I think we all can. Especially at parenting! I am thankful God knows the future and He makes no mistakes and never leaves us. Thanks for the reminder, Debbie. Reply
Debbie, while I was driving to get my groceries today, I was thinking about some of the messes I have got myself into. Some were actually dangerous situations, I kind of laughed to myself and then I thought about what could have happened to me. Thank God He saved me from that life, I owe Him so much. Reply
Ii am amazed at my stubbornness and stupidity regarding decisions I made while wanting to do life my own way. I am so grateful God never gave up on me and carried me through so many hard times in my life. Reply
I do believe most, if not all of us, have many regrets in our parenting days, and life in general. As I often said, and verbalized… “There are no instruction books “, (but there may have been some besides Dr. Spock!) lol Marriage and Parenting are two different jobs, but BOTH hard. I was lucky not to be a single parent, but it still was a hard job, as 2 parents don’t always agree!!! Back in the teen years, I heard many times… “But why not, so & so gets to do that or go there!” AND, just as many times our kids heard “But so & so doesn’t have us for parents”. Many times they also were told “If I feel it is not right, but let you do thus & such… then if something happens to you, I would never forgive myself”… (a TRUE statement.) I was probably way overprotective, & we made LOTS of mistakes, but through it all the kids knew we made choices because we loved them! Many times I wished I could go back and do it over, but in spite of our many bad choices and mistakes ~ by the Grace of God, we are Blessed with adult children and grandchildren that are good people, that we apprecuate and enjoy. Not one of us is perfect & can walk on water, BUT, ….God is Good! Reply
I do believe most, if not all of us, have many regrets in our parenting days, and life in general. As I often said, and verbalized… “There are no instruction books “, (but there may have been some besides Dr. Spock!) lol Marriage and Parenting are two different jobs, but BOTH hard. I was lucky not to be a single parent, but it still was a hard job, as 2 parents don’t always agree!!! Back in the teen years, I heard many times… “But why not, so & so gets to do that or go there!” AND, just as many times our kids heard “But so & so doesn’t have us for parents”. Many times they also were told “If I feel it is not right, but let you do thus & such… then if something happens to you, I would never forgive myself”… (a TRUE statement.) I was probably way overprotective, & we made LOTS of mistakes, but through it all the kids knew we made choices because we loved them! Many times I wished I could go back and do it over, but in spite of our many bad choices and mistakes ~ by the Grace of God, we are Blessed with adult children and grandchildren that are good people, that we apprecuate and enjoy. Not one of us is perfect & can walk on water, BUT, ….God is Good! Reply
Wow ~ This speaks such a truth to me! I dropped the ball so many times in my parenting for fear of being to harsh to the precious humans I was blessed with! I tried to explain to a fault the reasoning behind all my decisions. When looking back, I always believed if, they had a roof over their head, clothes on their backs and food to eat, then I had them covered. All being a single parents, choosing to always keep them updated with Dr appts and mostly having them live life to the fullest, and to be happy. Looking back there’s so many other things I should have taught them I should have disciplined, and held firm to it! The foundation was sturdy, but the test of the 80’s 90’s etc was challenging. I’d like to think I did my best, however, not always by example. Reply
Oh my! I’m am certainly stubborn and at times I have told God Don’t wanna! Grateful that God is merciful and gracious and loves me still! Reply
May I say this, none of us knew exactly what to do all the time. I have no doubts you did your best. I too fell short more often than not as a single parent myself. We live and by God Grace, we too learn even in our senior years we are still learning. God, bless you dear. Reply
No matter what I did, Mama was always there. Sometimes she said I told you so other times she just hugged me & said it’ll be alright. God loves us and welcomes us back when we go astray and what a blessing it is to know that when we have no one here, He’s always there. Prayers & hug’s sweet lady. Reply