"Parenting is for the brave ... so my mother reminds me when I feel like throwing in the towel."
This remark came from "16. Sandy" commenting on "What I've learned about parenting so far."
An influx of parenting advice and counsel swirls around the Bloggernacle of late, perhaps spurred on by the recent general conference, where this blogger counted 10 "General Conference Talks about Improving Parenting."
So in that theme, I'll begin with the wonderful series by Nicholeen Peck on "Parenting and Family Life" at The Millennial Star. She provides parenting tips on "Choosing Your Words Carefully" (don't start with the word "don't") or how to not overact to "Children Crying" (it's better to answer with love than frustration) and even how to combat "Selective Hearing" (make sure to always give the instructions clearly and to the child).
Or there is an entire "Parenting and Family" section of blogs at the newly redesigned Mormon Mommy Blogs. While perusing some of the blog offerings, I found this new post on "Receiving Revelation for My Children" where a mother relates times of prayer and special promptings that caused her to help (and perhaps even save) her children. And I love the end, how she feels now her stewardship changing as her children enter adulthood: "It has been such a gradual process, as each of them have aged, and begun making their own choices ... And it makes so much sense — they shouldn't be relying on their parents anymore. This is their life, and their free agency is in full-bloom."
And this post summarized a stake fireside held in Portland, Ore., about the importance of "Parenting our Teens with Strength and Good Courage." One parenting tip emphasized the importance of affection: "We learned as we already knew that as our children grow and become more independent, we hug and kiss them less and less. It seems a natural thing for us. After all, they begin to pull away from us and almost seem embarrassed by our affections. We want to accommodate their burgeoning maturity, but we may be doing them a disservice. A mere touch to the face or the stroke of a teenager's hair sends a powerful signal to them that they are loved, that we are still there to continue to protect and nurture them."
Now let's tend to other posts from this last week in the Bloggernacle:
Power pick: "I offer you some unsolicited advice, garnered from misapplied parenting idealism." So says this blogger in laying out "What I've learned about parenting so far." She explains that "Kids aren't notches in our belts. ...They come with their own personalities, likes and dislikes. They aren't Play-Doh, we don't mold them like we think we do. They aren't computer programs, into which data is entered with an expected predictable result." And her conclusion is insightful: "Life has taught me that when it comes to parenting it is not our job to save our children. It is our job to show them where salvation lies, regardless of whether or not our ideal of an eternal family unit is rejected by them. We give them our best, because in the end what every child needs is what we need. What every child wants is what we want, someone to love them unconditionally like our Father in Heaven loves us — someone who will be there with outstretched arms to gather us in."
Forgotten gem: Going back to July 4, 2009, I found this lovely "musing from a single mom" about the simple joy and importance of spending individual "Time with Each Child." She explains a special moment with her son: "As we lay under the stars; pondering upon the great expanse of the universe, we felt a renewed connection and closeness that wouldn't have come had all four of us been there together." And just like the commenter said, it's moments like these children remember for the rest of their life.
Techie tip: Check out the resource-full link "Building a Strong Family" at lds.org where you'll find "Keys to Strong Families" and tips to help your reason with children, build their confidence, help them learn and even teach responsibility.