1. Take time to always be at the crossroads in the lives of your children, whether they be six or sixteen.
I have made a more conscious effort to be at the crossroads for my kids, especially when they're leaving for and returning from school each day. I love it that if Amie and I are talking to each other on the phone when she goes to pick up her kids, I can say "you're at the crossroads, I'll talk to you later" and we're both good with that.
2. Take time to be a real friend to your children.
I can see how this gets easier to do as the kids get older and can carry on a real conversation. I have to reign in my anxiety about them turning into teenagers and remember to relax and enjoy them as people instead of always trying remind them of something or teach them a lesson.
3. Take time to read to your children.
Whitney still likes to do this, Landon not as much; though if he's trying to prolong his bedtime he does enjoy hanging out in the cozy with me.
4. Take time to pray with your children.
We pray as a family morning and night, and it has been wonderful to hear their prayers become more thoughtful as they grow older.
5. Take time to have a meaningful weekly home evening. Make this one of your great family traditions.
I am so happy that this has become one of our great traditions. We have Family Home Evening every Sunday night, and then usually do a family activity on Mondays for Family Fun Night. The kids have been so receptive to both ideas, and I'm always surprised by how much fun it is when we're all together.
6. Take time to be together at mealtimes as often as possible.
This is my Achilles Heel! I don't know why making dinner is such torture for me, but it is. I am actively working to be better about this because I know how important it is for us to have that time around the table together each day.
7. Take time daily to read the scriptures together as a family.
We read from the Book of Mormon every morning before Randy leaves for work.
8. Take time to do things together as a family.
We play football in the yard, play SingStar together in the evenings, read alone-together on our bed, watch movies, and hang out regularly together.
9. Take time to teach your children.
This seems to happen naturally for us, but I think there are more life-skills things we need to be teaching them.
10. Take time to truly love your children. A mother’s unqualified love approaches Christlike love.
I tell them I love them multiple times a day, and I try to show them through my actions. I don't ever want them to question my love for them.
Happy Mother's Day!!!
**Thoughts??**
22 comments:
Great thoughts and great photos. I think you're doing a great job of being present, teaching them life skills, teaching them the gospel, showing love. One of the speakers in our sacrament meeting today told us that his father only told him he loved him when he was dying! Can you imagine how sad? Of course now he tells his children and grandchildren of his love every chance he gets.
I would have to conclude that you are a very lucky lady. It is great to hear a mother's love on Mother's Day....and everyday.
(Super pretty blond hair in the last photo, it looks so nice.)
First of all, I think that green shirt must be your color! Looks great!
These are wonderful thoughts for Mother's Day. Thanks for sharing.
Who CARES if you make dinner every night?.....you actually read the scriptures each day & have family prayer morning and night!!!!
Wow. I am in awe.
oh I think you are doing a great job.. the dedication to telling them you love them, scriptures/ and prayers are so much more important than making a dinner!
happy mother's day!
I was a young mother when President Benson delivered this fireside address and I used these as a checklist then, much as you are doing now. I think they are so great.
I love the way you gave an accounting after each thing. Great job, Jill. Being a mother is an incredible opportunity and responsibility.
I can never get enough of you!
I really love this post!--Such words of wisdom!--I love your pictures and the personal comments you made after each heading...
Happy Mother's Day, my friend!
P.S.--I love the robin's egg!!
I think a gold star goes with every one of those "take time" statements. Reading posts like that make me so happy to be your bloggy reading friend. You inspire me to be a better me.
Happy Mother's Day!!!
Jill,
I love reading your blog~you always have great insight into things sometimes I don't take the time to think about! Thanks for making me stop and think!! I really appreciate it!
Autumn
Perfectly stated!
Happy Mother's Day. I'm going to try to follow your outline!
This is really a great outline. I loved it the first time and still do. Happy Mothers Day!
this post made me cry.
i especially love #8 about your family.
and i love the last one in particular and in general. i'm not feeling incredibly good at this lately. and i find so many things on this list that i need to do better at...
happy mother's day jill! i hope i'm becoming duck-like reading your blog...if i can imprint off your skills, i'm set.
This is all great advice. I especially love the first one about being at your children's crossroads. Also, I love the bag you made with Kristi. It is darling and the perfect size for church binders, etc. So cute!
great post - i love all of your photos. that last one with landon is so great.
you are a good mom and your teenager years are going to be just fine. you have great kids.
This is such a great checklist, and I love how you checked in under each one. Your family is solid, it's inspiring :)
I liked this list more when I was actually doing something on it... it is impressive to read your accomplishments though.
Happy Mother's Day!
regular scripture study and regular prayers are no small accomplishments. you should be proud of yourself and your family!
I really like this list/outline of important family routines/goals--and you are doing them well (dinner too, in a way that works for your family--don't fret about that).
Great thought about being present at those crossroads moments.
Wow...well done Jill. Those are great thoughts too from President Benson. Funny how the counsel doesn't change over the years does it?
Happy Mother's Day!
Well said! They are such simple principles, but why are they sometimes so difficult to remember and actually do? I also liked the other comment on being in the present for the kids. Great advice on this site!
you are doing superb missy...I think Landon is becoming a very handsome little guy. I love all the pictures and I am proud of you. Now you need a family vacation...zut alor, you are planning to go somewhere else, instead of the beach...that will be nice, I HOPE it works out for you. It has to!
My mother-in-law sent me this list for mother's day, and I must say that seeing it here - with all your real-life notes included - makes it so much more meaningful! Thanks for posting it like this. So inspiring.
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