From Jan's Desk - Editorials

	Focus on Humanity Parenting: The Road I Choose Tripping over the shoes and toys that seem to clutter my living room floor on a constant basis, just seems to be part of the game of parenting. I realize it doesn't have to be that way. I could spend my time picking up after the little hon-yocks, and screaming at them to do their chores, but it's more fun my way. (I never know where I'm going to land.) A night of walking over hot wheels and leggos has special meaning for me, and I doubt I will ever forget the night of the little tykes tractor story, but life does have a purpose - and for me that purpose is in the form of children. It's the loving, the kisses, the hugging, the owies, and all the problems and hassles of parenthood, as well as the joys of being a mother. Nothing else compares. I can't imagine life without my treasures or living without the fun of parenting teenagers, toddlers, and tweens, and yet somehow I can imagine that life without them, for someone who never had children is pretty much the same as mine - FULL and SATISFYING. My friends who don't have children seem to find ways to utilize the spirit of nurturing that God gave them, and it seems to give them pleasure in the same way. I meet people throughout life who have children who do not feel the need or desire to be fully involved parents and I wonder if they realize what they are missing. But, when I share the joys of parenting with them, they just don't understand. So, I suppose there are those among us who just don't get it, but for those, I'm sure God has a plan somewhere in his massive order of life to satisfy. I just really wonder what that plan could be. For me, the oatmeal kisses, band aide covered knees, broken trophies of my past, and scattered clutter are all made worth it by the years of love and honor that my children bestow up on me in the single moment when they proudly introduce me as mom. ~~~~ The cravings and the nights of unrest and worry, fears of creating a life. God must have had a heart of iron to know what would come later, and still do creation. Makes one wonder if the big boom theory might be fact? The irony of doing it alone and the reality of being alone after the joy of the union of creation. It's understandable why the female praying mantis eats the male after conception, he'd just leave anyway. Precious Seconds and Baby Cries... They go so fast. Life is created, born, grown, and gone in such few short moments in the span of all eternity. Baby eyes, sleeping peacefully and angelic memories of quiet times, the baby drifts off to sleep in your arms at the sound of a peaceful lullaby, and life goes on Then the baby cries. You work hard for moments that seem like hours to quiet a fussy baby, only to coo and croon at them once they drift into peaceful sleep. A sigh of thanks and gratefulness escapes an exhausted mom when her child finally rests peacefully on her breast, though she knows any noise might bring recurrence of the restless night. Patented Lullabies - remember that one. (to no tune in particular - in a very soft loving voice) Oh my peanut butter baby You're the one I love Oh how I wish you'd close Your eyes Your mommies coming undone. I'm so tired sweetheart And I want to go to bed Oh how I wish You were a sleepyhead. Or this one's always a favorite... Ain't cha ever gonna close your eyes You little sleepy head I told you it was bedtime long before the sun went down But you don't really listen You just cry and scream a lot Now I'm getting sleepy and the dawn is coming up. But I bet you will be dreaming When I have to go to work. What a brat you are - I love you Anyways, but my boss won't like me sleeping For my weekly pays. Or maybe something more taxing... I've been up for days And all the nights between Now there's a gloss upon my eyes No soul has ever seen You won't let me get a shower There's not a moment in between But my darling baby I love you Even though I stink. (Just think Elvis and blue suede shoes - only softer.) Interspersing moments of teen life with memories of quieter days, would seem to be pleasant and expected. Youre "psycho Mom". My daughter laughed as we hung up the phones. Our new matching cellular Nokias - used to stay in touch during her first weeks of college. Little did I know they would be our lifesavers through those first weeks. Slowly we learned to use email, and spare the phone bill, but we needed that contact with each other as she went her way to become an independent woman.
	My daughter- my friend. Life had happened as she grew up, and she grew up as life happened. The reality was, I had enjoyed every moment, though they were far too few and flew by too fast, but I remembered them all. Most of them happy moments to treasure and think about as the days dwindled into weeks and months of sharing her life - as a friend, and my daughter. She is a special part of my life - and I want to share the experience. Born at the break of dawn on a summer morning, in the golden glow of the delivery room, Brenna Joy became the light of my life. Don't want to take anything away from God, or Jesus - the son of God and my Savior, but that little girl lit up my world! I thanked God for her, dedicated her to His service, and loved every moment of being a mother. I never expected to have more children. My marriage ended shortly after she was conceived. And I never looked back, I had been given the most precious gift, a baby girl with big heather colored eyes, and a smile that lifted my heart. Brenna Joy was true to her name --- the joy of my life. Pregnancy was remarkably easy, I loved being pregnant. I loved every moment of feeling her move and squirm inside as she grew. I was a glowing mom, walking in the sunshine and feeling the moment all winter long, I just enjoyed being pregnant. Come spring, I was content to plan the nursery and start collecting supplies for the baby. I enjoyed the season and the opportunities I had for learning and growing. I craved banana milk shakes from Dairy Queen, and since we didn't have one in our community, I had to drive at least two hours to get one. I drove it as often as I dared - by myself, until my parents found out. Then I had to take someone along. I so enjoyed those moments alone. Hours of me and the highway just cruising along and enjoying the day. There was something about the prospects of being a single mother, that felt good. It hadn't been my plan, but it was my reality, and I grew comfortable with the idea that spring. More parenting views, ideas and thoughts of life and living as we move along...
	Just a few thoughts on teaching children - as a home school mom, these concepts are part of our daily lives. I believe they are actually part of the lives of people everywhere, but often are unrecognized as teaching tools. If I drop it someone will pick it up. How long did it take your child to learn during a ride, or a church service, while you held them, that if they dropped the toy they were playing with, you would pick it up and hand it to them? If your child asks you a question, and you have an answer, do you ignore the question, or answer it? If you don't have an answer, do you make an attempt? How difficult do you find it to say to your child, "You know, I never thought of that, let's go find out why the grass grows from the ground up?" I pulled a tuft of grass out of my yard to show my son the root system on it we were discussing how a tree grows and what a tap root is. Not sure where he heard of a tap root but the question came up and we endeavored to find an answer. We finally found it by pulling a dandelion out of the grass... That ominous root that reaches down to bedrock to hold the plant solidly in the soil and maintain its constant supply of nutrients and water is the proverbial tap root. His understanding of plant life grew and his appreciation of my ability to help him find answers grew a bit, as well. Will he remember in twenty years, what the purpose of the tap root is? Probably. Will he know that the answer to the question doesn't have to be readily available? More than likely. Will he know that if you can't find the answer in all the probable places (we couldn't pull up a tree) there are other sources to find the answer? I think he will. When we study about tap roots in our annual horticulture class, and do the research in our study manual, and at the library, will he remember his hands on experience at finding a tap root and specifically what it does? I'm sure he will. By simplifying the experiences children have, responding to them in a natural manner - honestly, and participating in their experience of life in a manner that will encourage them to find answers to their questions, we are teaching our children.

Morning Abounds

By Jan Verhoeff