Saturday, November 22, 2014

How has your own childhood changed the way you raise your own kids?

There are probably a million ways this question could be answered, but I'll focus on three.

1)  As a kid, I remember two people influencing heavily my perception of motherhood:  my mom and my Aunt Rhonda.  They really listened to me and made me feel important, even as a kid.  Both of these women were frequently patient with me when I was misbehaving.  Every once in  a while I remember each of them losing their temper, but that was the exception, not the rule.  I want to be like them with my own kids.  And yet, I'm sitting down to type this up after just putting my kids to bed and being supremely frustrated with James and Reese.  I let my frustration be known to them in no uncertain terms.  <sigh>  I have much to learn...
Me and my Ma
Photo credit: Diane Lewis

Uncle Phil and Aunt Rhonda, Photo by Diane Lewis

2)  I remember feeling stressed about finances as a kid.  We were a family of six living on my dad's Air Force income.  We didn't lack for anything important, but I do remember observing the financial strain on my mom and dad.  This memory etched into my brain influences how I want things to be with my own kids.

3)  Our family's faith was a crucial part of my upbringing.  I want to duplicate that for my kids.  I want them to be grounded in their beliefs.  I want them to see Scott and I living and walking out our faith, not just telling them about it.

I would really, really love to hear some other thoughts on this topic.  How would you answer this question?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well i looked at you as sorta my own kid. Cute, shroom haircut, button nose... And i figured, hey, you turned out awesome. Im done :) btw your wedding makeup was so fabulous xo

Anne Acuff said...

Agreed on the faith topic…we have a great legacy of faith from parents, grandparents, and further back.
A legacy of being willing to work hard and support the family.
Two things NOT to repeat…we did not have a great legacy of teaching in how to handle money and finances from either one of our parents. Important to teach them starting young. YOU are the one who made the difference in our family, changing our family history by doing Financial Peace University with Dave Ramsey! Never to late to teach us old dogs new tricks.
And my mom was a slapper…I vowed even as a child to NEVER do that to my children.