Friday, February 8, 2013

Two Child Raising Questions

my girls
My Retirement Party    May 2008


I had no idea how to raise children.

I had no idea how to teach school.

The two enormous responsibilities I had as a woman came without a playbook: 

as a mother and as a teacher.

My husband and I have 3 adult daughters who are smarter, funnier, cooler, and wiser than we ever were at their age .

They are relentless and kind and someone you want on a sinking ship or in a fight or when your heart is broken.

My husband and I may not be wiser after all of these years, but we have been there, done that, done it wrong, laughed about it, and done it again. 

In fact- though we feel a little pistol whipped at times-
we’re not bad on a sinking ship or in a fight either.

For some reason today, I thought of two memorable child rearing questions my parents asked me as a young girl-


“Have you been sitting on the hoods of cars?”


and

”Did you learn anything?”


Yes.

And

Yes.



I did have a playbook.

13 comments:

Theresa said...

:) My Daughter is raising a 17 year old, 14 year old, 8 year old and almost 7 year old:) Our playbook may have looked a little different but the questions are similar! Have a blessed weekend! BEAUTIFUL picture!

Blondie's Journal said...

Everything we've taught our kids is seen in hindsight. Thankfully, the questions from them never stop.

You have a gorgeous family!

XO,
Jane

Lea @ CiCis Corner said...

What lovely, lovely daughters with a lovely, lovely Momma. Great post!

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Great post! Four very pretty young ladies! Thanks for sharing.
Enjoy your weekend.

Pondside said...

My parents and my more-experienced sister were my playbook. It's so interesting to watch my two now - lovely, actually.
The photo of you and your girls is just beautiful.

Deb said...

Love that photo Laura... We winged it to raising our kiddos...hopefully they learned something along the way

Patricia @ 9th and Denver said...

You and your daughters are all lovely as ever!

"did you learn anything?" that is what my parents always asked us.
Well, ...My dad would ask my brothers
"How'd the other guy look?"
I think I winged it...but my husband tells me all the time ...
"You did a great job raising our kids."
:)
Pat

janice15 said...

I raised five children pretty much alone...had a lot of ups and downs...My first two are and have been great... my last three have been a hand full... I wish often and pray hard for them to see the light.. You can have all the books in the world and it wouldn't make a difference I believe... Such a great photo... Happy weekend with love Janice

Tricia said...

Adult offspring are SO delightful! I had no idea mine would turn out to be such terrific people -- a lovely bonus!

Bliss said...

I sat on my fair share of hoods. I don't know if girls do that anymore!

Your daughters all have your smile, even though yours isn't showing.

Bliss

Linda said...

LOVE this! It goes along perfectly with my post of the week about my 17 year-old daughter (my only child) and her friends doing things like I did. Like you wrote, she is way cooler, and more responsible than I ever was at her age, and we have a beautiful relationship.

Great photo of you and your girls!
Linda

Julie said...

Children are God's gifts to us to show us how much WE need to grow up and change and quit being so self-serving...AND then....when they are grown up, I am convinced that God just smiles when we look at them and then turn to HIM and say Thank YOU, Lord. Such GREAT people, and I know I had VERY little to do with it. It's ALL grace. Thankful for what MY KIDS taught me. Loved your post. AWESOME pic. :-) :-) {{hugs}} Laura!

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

What lovely women....

Deanna

 

design + development by kelly christine studio