Worry - Part 2

I have many friends who aren't raising kids from trauma. Their babies have been birthed into the very best of circumstances and are deeply loved, secure in their place in their families and the world and have no trauma in their history.

Yet these women worry deeply about the behavior of their kids - I hear them utter the words "why does everyone else's kids behave and mine can't?" 

What are we moms really, deep down worried about?

On the outside, I am worried that my child may wind up.....(insert your biggest fear about your child's future here - irresponsible, single forever, kicked out of school, homeless, in jail, addicted...whatever). That's what I will tell you - that's is about them.

But I will venture to say that on the inside - we are really worried about what people will think about US as parents as they see our child's behavior. We are afraid they will judge us as irresponsible parents who can't control their children and whose children don't respect them.

That fear and worry then causes us to lose it with our kids - who then behavior worse.

And so on.

Momma's- I said it yesterday and I will say it today - your children's behavior is not a reflection of your parenting abillity. It's just not. That's not to say we don't influence our children or that our actions don't have impact - they absolutely do. But please momma friends - stop beating yourself up and worrying about your parenting abilities based upon the actions of your kids. And - pretty please - let's stop doing it to one another. 

We wonder why people can't see and believe the beauty of the Good News of Jesus - yet every day the world judges our heavenly Father on the behavior of His children (that would be those of us who profess to be Christians).

Lay aside your worry about the world judgement abouot your parenting abilities. You are doing great!