5 minute read
Her Advice: 4 Major Lessons I Have Learned Being A Mom
ADVICE
4 MAJOR LESSONS I HAVE LEARNED BEING A MOM
BY COACH CHRIS
Hello friends. Can you believe that we are in the last 5 months of the year? My goodness…time is flying! I want to take a moment and dedicate this article to the person who has helped my life become more fulfilling through my role in her life as MOM—my only child, Christiana Chante MooreJones! I know that this is not the typical time of the year that we celebrate Mother’s Day but let me just say being a mom is one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had in this life, and I celebrate it all throughout the year! Thank you, Christiana, (‘Baby girl’ as I call her) for giving me the opportunity to watch you blossom into a beautiful and bold young woman who will continue to bless others by your calming presence. Being a mom has taught me so much about life and I want to share just a few of the lessons I have learned thus far.
Lesson One: Be careful what you say and do because your kids are watching you.
Over the years, I have watched my daughter pay close attention to every move that I make. I have not always been perfect and sometimes I have said and done things in front of her that I wish I would have never allowed to come out of my mouth and attitudes I wish she had never experienced. However, there are good things that I have watched her imitate and she has taught me that she watches everything—not just what I say but also what I do. She has taught me that she is almost like a sponge, ready to soak up all that I can immerse her into for the purpose of living it out in her life.
Lesson Two: Children want your presence—not just presents.
My daughter has taught me the power of just “being” together. We have some of the most interesting conversations about EVERYTHING! One of my favorite things to do with her is to get in the car, drive to Dairy Queen, get two blizzards (Oreo blizzard with extra cookies for me and M&M blizzard for her) and we just drive around for 30-45 minutes—going nowhere in particular and talk about life, about our faith, and about the latest happenings in “our worlds” ---it is the best! You see, in today’s world—we are all consumed with technology. We can fall victim to having our phones glued to our hands constantly because we do not want to get behind on email, we don’t want to miss the latest posts on Facebook or Instagram, and we are rushing to catch the next best photo opportunity. It can be all consuming if we are not careful, but what I have learned as a mom, it is important to be fully present. I am learning that yes; she likes the gifts I buy for her but she what she values the most is the moments I spend with her, and the gift of my presence is enough!
Lesson Three: Let them see your challenges as well as your victories.
One of the things that I have intentionally done as a mom is to be as authentic as I can be with my daughter. I want her to know that I am NOT perfect and that it is okay. During our mother-daughter moments on Tuesday nights, I become an open book. I share my successes but more importantly I share my struggles. Why do I do that? I want her to understand that we are all on this journey path called life and we will go down straight roads and we will make wrong turns too. I don’t ever want her to get stuck in her struggles.
Lesson Four: Hold their hand as long as you can.
You know, as a mom, I always hope that I will be able to protect my baby girl from the viciousness of life that sometimes seems so daunting. I look at the chaos in our world and I wish I could shield her from some of the sheer foolishness that is going on right now at the time of this writing…but I cannot. There are times when we are walking together, and she stands nearly as tall as I do now, and she will reach for my hand… those are the sweetest moments. It is in those moments that I am reminded that nothing is more important than being able to hold her hand as long as I can. I realize one day; she is going to leave the nest and spread her wings to fly into the world of destiny. I will not be able to stop the process of time from moving forward and I will be hopeful that I have poured in as much love, guidance, attention, correction, strategy, fun, and focus into her as I have held her hand in the throws of everyday living. It will have moved from changing her diaper, to helping her put on her graduation regalia to putting her wedding veil over her face and so forth and so on…my hope is that I will have made the adequate deposits into her life that will show up later as she grows into womanhood, and I will hold her hand as long as I can.
It is my hope that this time that you and I have spent together has been a blessing to you. Whether you are a mother by birth or by choice or if you have the “spirit” of a mother—know that you are valuable and your impact into your child’s life is one that is undoubtedly the most nurturing, caring, empathetic, covering, and guiding forces they will ever experience. And to my baby girl, Christiana Chante, I love you more than words can ever capture, and I will always be here for you as long as you and I both shall live. Until next time, this is Coach Chris, your friend!
Christy Jones, also know as Coach Chris, is an improvement coach for leaders and helps them break free from feeling overwhelmed and prepares them to take their teams to high levels of performance. Contact her at www.beginmonday.com.
