This afternoon was filled with a baby shower for one of my dear friends, Sarah. She and her husband are expecting their first baby whom they having lovingly nicknamed Fred. They have an idea what they plan for his real name, but until the day of his birth they are keeping it close to their chests. Instead, we’re all calling him Fred.
I have a feeling that nickname may just stick with the little fella.
For the shower, the hostesses put together a wonderful book filled with motherly advice from each of the attendees of the shower. I wish I had my camera to have captured it perfectly, but needless to say, if you are hosting a baby shower it is a wonderful idea. As my friend read through many of the sage sayings, I watched as all of the mothers in the room smiled and nodded in agreement with each one.
There were some goodies, too.
I thought it might be fun to share some of my own, some from the shower, and then for you to add some of wise words as well in the comments. I know you’ve got plenty of good ones to share!
I am a firm believer in that you can never love a child too much.
Growing up, I knew my parents were my parents and my friends were my friends. Just out of love and respect for them, as I grew older, they naturally became great friends any way.
This is a hard one, isn’t it. All I dream for my son in his adulthood is a great spiritual life filled with happiness, a love that makes his heart soar, and children to fly kites and teach the power of love. It’s awe-inspiring to realize that the best people to teach my son how to become that person are my husband and me.
We’ve not quite made it to 13, but this is a piece of advice I heard that I’m definitely taking note of. It’s easy to let those moments pass as your children get older, but they never outgrow a mother’s hugs, kisses on the forehead, and tender words.
I remember when Little Buddy turned two, I thought, “man, this isn’t nearly as bad as everyone makes it out to be.” Then, four came along and it was twice as bad as his two’s. Then, eight came along and even more of an independence streak was evident.
I’m bracing myself for 16 already.
What great advice. Parenting is the most joyful, purposeful thing I have ever done. And, I often tell my children that it is the best thing that their papa and I have ever done. I love the one about needing as many hugs at 13 as at 2. While we are not there yet, I know that my children need as many or more now than they did when they were 2. And, I happily give them as many as they need. 🙂
Yes! It is the most joyful, but you are so right about the purposeful part, too!
When my 4-year old son said to me for the first time, “I don’t like you mom” and then listed off all of the people that he does like, except for me, I was reminded of how true #2 is. Parenting is hard, but you know you are doing something right when you don’t let your kid have everything and get away with everything they want.
It’s hard not to, isn’t it? We want to give them absolutely everything, but know in the end it isn’t the right thing to do.
Holy cow, that last one? SO TRUE. We are at 7 and when I read that, I remembered how hellish 4 was. Sigh. 🙂
Oh yes, isn’t that one the absolute truth. Maybe not for every child, but it certainly was for us!