Seasonal Changes of Parenting

 

 

Ecclesiastes 3:1-22 – To every [thing there is] a season, and a time

to every purpose under the heaven…

Summer is ending and soon fall will be upon us: a new school year is about to begin. My life as a parent has had ebbs and flows much like the brilliance of the changing seasons.  I have experienced the hope that flickers as life goes into dormancy while waiting an eventual reawakening of the warmer seasons. I have also seen how before seasons end in our lives, we enjoy their final beauty. Parenting seasons are much the same.

I remember with melancholy longing the little hands and feet kicked up in the air in my daughter’s crib and her sweet baby eyes. She went from an infant with her cute babbling to the magic of her first words as a toddler walking and running.  Then those first words turned into questions and then discovery and repeating loved stories and lines from books and animated movies. My little girl twirled in front of the television singing her favorite songs from the short animated film, “Rainbow Fish.”  My favorite spring of her toddler years involved a dance recital when she threw a kiss to the audience, causing rapturous applause and laughter.

Next came the autumns of her earliest childhood years. I recall the excitement about the first day of preschool and her wanting to not ride in the baby car seat and then insisting that she walk by herself to class without mommy. Next, I remember celebrating all the firsts in elementary school from the first A to the first field trip and to the first award.

She became a tween much too fast moving from her first childhood girls’ birthday parties to slumber parties to times in the mall getting her fingers painted and singing in the church children’s plays at Christmas and Easter: the laughter, the crazy dancing, and the joy that each stage of her life inspired.  I especially remember the day she bowed her head with her sister-in-law and asked Jesus to be Lord of her life, declaring later that she wanted to sing for Him so that others could find and love Him too.

Another stage of autumn loss is beginning this year as my daughter continues her journey into teen years. Now, I move from the seasons of discovery and childhood to the stages of resilience and confidence as my soon-to-be teen branches out and achieves more firsts in her life like her first decorated, middle school locker complete with carpet and wallpaper.

My young teen has matured and become a thinker and do-it-yourselfer.  She recently arranged her binder for seventh grade, printing out a beautiful cover page with her letter initial to put in the film slot on the front.  She is reading her summer book and thinking about all the great activities planned at her school this year, including her first week-long trip without us.

These firsts have dissolved into wow, “She he is growing too quick. Why can’t I stop the clock?” I grieve the passing of young childhood while my daughter greets the passing years with excitement blended with nervous fear. I know, however, that my grief will soon be replaced with pride as she grows to an independent, smart, charming, and loving young lady.

Just as in nature the young featherlings stretch their wings waiting to fly on their own, we watch our tweens and then teens try new things, develop their own outlooks and plans; find new friends and then eventually the autumn of goodbyes come when we will have to let go of our leaf or leaves to float free from the home tree; even though I know I will hang on with each finger of my branch grasping tightly. My struggle leads to a new chapters and new seasons in life.

I write this essay as I am reading Susan Mead’s Dance with Jesus. I know my hope is selfishness that I never face her loss. I look at my daughter who is barely become an adult. I can’t imagine the grief and loss and the utter blackness that would fill my life if I lost her.

Susan Mead turns her grief into a beautiful book field with lessons about discovery and grace. I loved the journey reading it has taken me on as I reflected on my own child’s passing life.  What I have learned from reading Susan’s book is to treasure each memory with my daughter, to lock them up in a beautifully ornate memory box in my heart, and to breathe each day with thankfulness that she is with me and is such a great gift from God. I see her spinning in my mind, dancing to songs and laughing. I have spent those days dancing with her like leaves spinning in the autumn sun.

You can read my full review of Dancing With Jesus today on this post. I am giving away a copy of her lovely book so please check it out! Also, I have a special guest post featuring Susan Mead as part of this week’s  Literacy Musing Mondays linkup. Be sure to read this as well. 😉

You can go here to learn more about Susan Mead and her great book or you can purchase it using my affiliate link below. Additionally, once you receive your book you can post a picture of the cover on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook for the chance to win $100.  Just tag it #DanceWithJesusBook @SusanBMead.  The winner will be announced by Susan on her Dance with Jesus website on August 31 and have 48 hours to respond.

 

 

Note: I received two copies of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review which you can find here along with my book giveaway. I do not give negative reviews on my blog. If I don’t like a book,  I will not waste my readers’ time with a negative review.  I am very selective of the books I review. I only request copies of books that I really think are going to be life changing and excellent! If you use my affiliate link in this post, I will receive a very small percentage of the sale which I will use toward my blogging expenses. Thanks for your support!

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This post was part of the One Word Blog Linkup hosted by, Janine of Confessions of a Mommyaholic and Lisa, of The Golden Spoons! This week, the word prompt choices were Dance and Innocent. If you would like to join the linkup you can find more information HERE, sign up for weekly emails HERE, and/or join the Facebook group HERE. Every Friday, two prompts are emailed. Choose one and write a post using that word as inspiration. Linkup up any time between 6:00am EST on Wednesday-9:00pm EST on Thursdays on any of the host sites.

Also contributing to these hops:

 

      

 

Inspire Me Mondays at Create with Joy, Inspire Me Monday at Angie Ryg,Mama Moments Monday, Motivation Mondays, Good Morning Mondays, Inspire Me Mondays at Table for 7, Mommy Monday Blog Hop, The Book Nook – Blog Party For Book Lovers!, What to Read Wednesdays, and Booknificent Thursdays.