My Season of Cheerleading

The following "journal thought" is written from my perspective of a juggling, "still figuring it out" mess of a mom...learning as I go & asking for grace as I fumble...

....

I was driving the kids to a movie this weekend and let my mind wander back.  

Back when I couldn't take them all to movies at the same time because I was nursing a baby and/or chasing a toddler.  I thought of how different our life is, only just a few short years later.  

I remember being physically tired but (usually) plenty of emotional reserves to draw from.  It was exhausting to chase four young children around but the world wasn't pulling on them, they were safely protected from social media and outside influences.  Life was pretty simple, light and in routine.

We're slipping out of that comfort zone :) 

And I'm not freaking out (like I thought I would be).  

I'm now growing to realize that I can't protect them from everything and it's really not my job to.  

Yes, I keep them environmentally & emotionally safe to the best of my abilities, 

and prayerfully guide them.  

Pray over them and believe the best for them.  

But this season that I'm in right now- could be summed up as 

Cheerleader.

No one ever told me this role was coming.  

I had heard taxi driver, secretary, chef, disciplinarian, negotiator, ect

I knew that as they grew they would require more communication and sometimes as much guidance as a toddler would.  

But I never guessed the pressures and negativity that goes on at schools, clubs and all around us. 

Cheerleading doesn't require a cute uniform but it does require me to lead as a good example.  

I could buy pom poms for every kid in Arizona if I had a dollar for every time I've told my child,

"you choose the kind of day you're going to have today.
No one has power to make you have a bad day"

Cheerleading 

to teach them changes in perspective when they're only seeing the worst of it. 

To hug them and wipe away tears when they sat alone under a tree at recess because a group of kids called names and teased.  

Cheerleading 

means that we give them an age appropriate summary of what's going on in the world while showing them they "are a light".  

I tell them all the time that they -each of them- are such a bright light to others.  

Blessed and protected and loved.  

Cheerleading

that when they get pushed down, it's the hurting people who hurt others.  

That's not always easy (for myself included) to remember in bullying incidents where I tell my child that we will not stay angry at this other kid.  

We will forgive them and hold our heads up.  

And it's perfectly ok to not be "friends" with everyone.

We don't give people control over whether we're happy or not.  

It's amazing how early our young children can learn this principle.

It's ok to be angry.  and hurt.  and move on. 

Cheerleading
that they are smart enough and equipped to accomplish tough things

in the midst of advanced classes (that many other parents let their child drop out of).

The only pressure they feel is what they're putting on themselves.

Grades don't dictate who we are.

Character and perseverance do.

Each of my children has experienced mean comments and cutting remarks.  

Preschool to Junior High.

I've wiped tears and hugged.  Picked up kids with quivering chins. 

Reassured and resisted the temptation to hunt the child down kept my own anger about it in check.

Cheerleading 

to be our best self.

(that doesn't mean we're perfect,  

that would be seriously boring :)

To apologize when we mess up and dust ourselves off when we fall
-help others as we pick ourselves up.

Keep going, keep looking up.

Cheerleading
to keep working on healthy friendships and relationships.
That's WHY we're here,
in this together.
I hope I teach them by example that forgiveness is the only answer
and grace is required hourly daily.
Cheerleading
to keep a healthy body image.
It's cool to be active & energetic and turn the TV/Ipad off.

Nope, I can't protect my kids from the whole world. 

That's not my job.

I can equip them and love them.

Cheerleading
my crazy, creative, goofy, imperfect, friendly, loving kiddos.

make this calling of motherhood worth it

When they look to me for relief and joy and example,

I hope I point them (lead them) in the good and humble road, even as we fumble.

Pom poms being optional.