Today I have a devotion on Crosswalk and at Proverbs 31 about the day I almost quit being a mom. It was a really hard day. But it really was the day I started “becoming” the mom I always wanted to be. One thing I learned is that I couldn’t become that kind of mom until I understood God’s perspective of me as His child.
When I finished writing in my journal that day, I sat down to do some work and happened upon a story about Andrew Carnegie that completely changed my perspective as a mom and as a child of God. Andrew Carnegie was the wealthiest man in America in the early 1900s, so wealthy that he employed over 42 millionaires. When asked how he developed these men to become so valuable that he would pay them that much money, Carnegie explained that “men are developed the same way gold is mined. When gold is mined, several tons of dirt must be moved to get an ounce of gold, but one doesn’t go into the mine looking for dirt — one goes in looking for gold.”
Zig Ziglar tells this story in his book, Raising Positive Kids in a Negative World, and then challenges moms and dads to look past their children’s mistakes and mine for gold in them, fully convinced that every child has gold hidden in their hearts just waiting to be discovered.
I was buried in the dirt that day. I felt like a failure as a mom. I was discouraged and so disappointed in myself. And I was convinced that God felt the same way about me. Then I started wishing I had a “gold-miner” in my life who would see beyond my mistakes and mishaps and find the gold in me. I almost inflated some black balloons and threw a little pity-party.
It was then that I sensed God whisper to my heart, “I am that Gold-miner.” He reminded me that I was the one who was being so critical of myself. I was the one who was so focused on what I didn’t do right. I felt like He whispered, “Renee, I see the gold of My image in you, and I want to bring it to the surface in your heart so that your kids could see Me in you.”
He also reminded me of stories and verses in the Bible that tell me He sees beyond who I am to who I can become. I knew this was God speaking because I didn’t think like that 10 years ago. I didn’t believe Him in an instant, either. No, it would take time for me to really let those truths sink in. But that day He used His thoughts to give me a new perspective of Him, and of myself. Then He challenged me to look for ways to have that same perspective with my children.
As a mom, it’ so easy to get buried in the dirt of discontentment, disobedience and mommy discouragement. That day I wondered: where is the gold in it all?
But after reading Ziglar’s challenge and hearing God challenge my heart, I thought about the difference it could make for my children to know I was intent on finding the gold within them. I wasn’t sure what the gold would look like but I figured if it was there, God could help me find it. So, I asked Him to show me and then I started writing down my thoughts. Two things came to mind – golden attitudes and golden actions.
I made a column for each and listed character traits like kindness, obedience, honesty, thankfulness, and compassion. I decided to look up Bible verses that tied in with the traits and wrote them down beside each one. Those not-so-golden traits needed to be addressed too, so I made a column for the dirt that buries the gold – anger, selfishness, whining, arguing, jealousy, pride, etc.
That night I went to bed thinking about what happened that day. For the first time in months, I was excited about my role as a mom. I felt like God was telling me to take my eyes off of my children’s habits and focus on their hearts. Finally I felt like there may be some meaning in the monotony! I had a goal and hope for some progress as a parent. Tomorrow I’ll share more. For now, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Copyright 2009, Renee Swope – All rights reserved.
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Today’s Mom Give-Aways
Today we are choosing winners from the comments and giving away two D6 mom resources – a copy of my “Mining for Gold in the Heart of Your Child Chart and CD and George Barna’s “Revolutionary Parenting”. We’ll be giving away gifts every weekday, so be sure to come back for more mom encouragement and resources from D6 and Proverbs 31 Ministries!
To be part of today’s give-aways, click on the words “comments” below this post. I’d love to know how old your kids are, and PLEASE include your email in your comment so we can get in touch if you win!
Renee,
Thank you so much for your words today. I am a stay at home mom of four children, ages 15 to 2, with a loving husband. We are a blended family which brings in its own challenges. I recently gave my husband the “pink slip” as well. He’s been doing his best to pick me up and dust me off… reminding me that the Lord will carry me through each day. I love your story about gold mining… that we need to look past all the dirt to get to the gold within our children. I often wondered how the “super moms” could get their children dressed and out the door on time for church… or get their children to listen to them in the grocery store. I feel that I need to dig past all the dirt in my life to find Gods gold within myself.
Thank you for your words of encouragement!
Kathleen
Renee, thank you once again for your devotional. I get so caught up in looking at our “actions” – that I forget to look at the hearts of our family. I already have out my pen and paper to make lists of golden actions and golden attitudes and look for verses for each. Thank you.
-Kerri
Mom of Emily (7) and Erin (4)
[email protected]
Hi my name is andrea (RI).
I am a mom of 9 year old twin girls. I Have a lot of fears arounf then growing up and going astray from GOD’S ways, so i become very protective about evrything. But i have real;ized today after reading Renee;s devotional that i have lacked to find teh gold in my children’s heart. My axiety about the coming years and how society is becoming has made me not enjoy being a mom. I always say that parenting is the hardest job i ever had, and many times one i do not enjoy. Bbit today Gos is speaking to me to take up this parenting journey with Him by my side, something i have failed to do!
Thank you so much for this devotional. I don’t know how many times I have said “I quit”. My kids deserve more and with God’s help I hope to get it to them someday soon.
I loved your CAN-DO KID, example. I used it with my 5yr old daughter that day in fact.
I greatly appreciate you being so real with being a mom. I’ve just recently had an I quit day, where I ran away to the store and left my kids with my husband. My 5yr old daughter completely baby powdered her brother 1.5yr from head to toe.
I took my kids to church and realized why I didn’t go anymore. They acted like heathens, and I was so embarrassed.
It’s a new day, and I’m up for the challenge.
Thank you,
Cammie
Renee,
I loved the “Gold-Mining” story. How true that is. I will begin looking at thing s from a different perspective today. Thank you for your ministry!
Stephenie
[email protected]
My family is going through some tough changes right now, and my kids are confused. We are in a wonderful church home, but my 5yr old is really struggling somewhere inside himself. please pray that he recognizes the people mining for the gold he has to offer.
Thanks so much for your devotional today, it was wonderful. I am completely new to your site I was sent here by a friend that was placed in my life by the Lord and has been an absolute joy and inspiration.
My two lil girls are 6 and 5. My 6yr old got saved 2 weeks ago and they both love the Lord so unconditionally.
Tabatha
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I have only yesterday subscribed to the daily Proverbs 31 devotionals, but how they have blessed me in just two days time. Our children are 10, 9, 7 and 2. I have felt really challenged lately to begin to make God a bigger focus personally and within our family. Thanks for reminding me that I am a child of God, and that He seeks the gold hidden in me. I am asking for His help in seeking the gold within each of my children too!
~Jen
[email protected]
This is so the message that I needed to hear! Some days I feel like all I do is yell and say NO to my kids and I know that there is so much more to being a mom than that!
As a working mom, I struggle to find that balance between getting things done in the evening and spending quality time with my kids.
I do just like your P31 devotional said and look at other moms and wonder how they do it and what I’m doing wrong.
Thank you for reminding me of the good that is in my children and showing me how to focus on that. I love the list! God knew that I needed to hear this today!
Mary in St. Joseph, MO
Mom of a 5 and 2 year old
Renee, I loved your devotional. Today was a hard morning. Many of those that I want to just give up and am crying out what am I doing wrong…am I losing my child’s heart, am I truely not able to do this!!!
I have a beautiful, smart 8 year old daughter. And my days can be overwhelming as I am a full time employee and part time student at night.
I’m thankful for your devotion. The Lord spoke to me thru it.
Thank you.
God Bless!!!
Michelle
[email protected]
Renee thank you so much for sharing your story! Often times we as moms sit back and view other moms as being perfect, so put together with obedient children. It’s very easy to get discouraged in a world full of negative influences. My 14 yr old often wakes with a negative attitude and its hard to not take it personal, my 18 yr old moved in with her boyfriend and has a 1 yr old (not how I invisioned my daughters life to be at 18), and my 16 month old son is very demanding. All of these isssues not to exclude my hubby, housework, laundry, cooking, accounting for my hubby’s business, shopping, still combining households(married almost 2 yrs), and the new addition construction on the house…..contribute to my feelings of overwhelming disparity. I feel pulled from all directions and feel like throwing my hands up and yelling “I quit!” Only in Gods word do I feel renewed. If it were not for KSBJ and their uplifting music and Godly words all day, who knows how deep that pit would be that I was digging formyself.
I’m a newbie to Proverbs 31 and I thank God I found you! Unfortunately I couldn’t get tix for “Girls Night Out”, but next time you come to Houston I’ll be there! Thank you for your daily words of encouragement!
I loved today’s devotion it really spoke to me. I was a single mother of a 10 year old about two years ago and now I am a wife and a bonus mama to 3 more kids (he was a single dad). So now I have a 12 yr old, 10,8 and 5. This was a huge change for me and at times I feel that the should act a certain way and be proper all the time, not be loud or act out in public. But that stuff just happens (oh yea and by the way the all have 4 different but unique personalities). At times I felt as though I failed as a bonus mom but realized that God placed me here and he chose me for them for a reason, and this devotion just reminded me that it’s not in my strength but in God’s. But, don’t get me wrong I love my life and my kids and would not trade my blessed life for anything. He placed me there and It’s my job now to find their individual GOLD (thru all the dirt lol). So thanks you for those words of encouragement that encourages me to regroup.
And I’m so, so excited to be going to see you ladies tomorrow in Houston.
GoD Bless me as I Mine for Gold.
Alvesa
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I so enjoyed your devotion today. It is just what I needed to hear.
I have a 12 year old son, and two daughters ages 9 and 7.
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Self criticism is one of my worst downfalls. It seems I am my own enemy in this department. I get the P31 devotion by email each and today’s touched me so much that I clicked over to your site and read further about mining for Gold. It has really inspired me. God definitely used you to speak to me this morning. Thank you so much.
My son is 5 yrs old. He is the only child his birthday is in july. We decided to wait til next year to sent him to school. Brayden is probably like most kids at his age. He thinks everything is suppose to happen right when he says or wants it. Lately I feel he’s not apprecating things we give him or do for him. He is not wanting to help out around the house with little chores either. My husband says spank him more I don’t want to be spanking him all the time. I ‘ve been praying I will be a better mom and positive role model to him.
WOW your devotion came at just the right time. GOD has a way if we will stop to listen
Thank you Becky
Renee, thank you for sharing your heart today about this topic. I have a sweet little boy who just turned 2 and one due in 7 weeks. My son is starting to enter a new phase of independence and opinions, and I often find myself feeling the frustration and discouragement you talked about. This devotion really touched my heart and helped me to see how important it is to shift my focus and start digging for the gold I know is there. Thanks again!
Tara
[email protected]
Thank You
Renee, your devotional today is just what I needed. I have three teenagers in the house 19,16,13. I struggle everyday with the decisions that come with being a mom of teenagers. Friends with younger children in my moms group ask if it gets better as the get older. I just tell them the truth that you just move on to the next chapter. So I am going to look for the Gold in my children today.
Renee, thank you!
I have 2 children. One is 10 and the other is 2.
I never really had any problems with my 10 year old until now. He is becoming a smart ailek. And coupled with that, we have the toddler who has shaken me to the core as to whether I am a good mom or not, because his brother was so CALM. I thought it was me.
I am thankful to be reminded that I don’t have to do this on my own. GOD is the best parent with attributes of both a father and a mother.
My e-mail is [email protected].
Thanks again!
Jennifer
Thanks for this encouragement and the follow up. It’s become very helpful to me. I have four children, ages 13, 8, 5, and 3 and no matter how old they get and how much I think I’ve learned about parenting, new challenges arise. Mining for gold is something the Lord has put on my heart for many years with my children and used you to remind me of that. Thanks again!
Sara Jo Poff
[email protected]
Thanks Renee for being real with us. Parenting sure is a big task and you don’t get the training beforehand like you do for most careers! I’ve been wading through the mire for too much of the time in parenting too and longing to see some gold in myself. I have a 5 year old daughter and a 2 year old son.
Gert [email protected]
Your devotions are always so eye opening and love how universal they are. I have a little boy that is 2 and could definately apply this with him.
Renee, thanks for the devotion today. My son is 5 and my daughter is 3. I find myself focusing on the no so much of the time. Just last week in a Bible study we were reminded of a verse “Mark the blameless man” and it has stuck in my brain. Every time I see my kids do the right thing, I go over and tell them how proud of them I am and ‘mark the blameless man’ Keep up the great work and I will be reading everyday.
Melony
Your devotional today spoke to my heart, because I made it one of my New Year’s “resolutions” this year to focus on my children’s good qualities and behaviors, rather than focusing on the “bad” ones. I love the gold mining analogy!
My children are ages 8 and 6.
Thanks, Renee!
Help my unbelief…. Thank you for being a vessel to allow God’s arms embrace me today about my kids… two boys 81/2, and 9, adopted and with special needs (I think I’m the one with the REAL need)Plus I’m just beginning a study about ‘Believing God’ and God’s timing is perfect…Do i really believe He is who He says He is? That He can do (enable me to be a better mom in His strength)what He says He can do? That I am who He says that I am? That because of that I can do all things through Him who strengthens me? That God’s Word is alive and active in me?….Hmmm, not just head stuff but heart and somtimes 12″ is aloooong way. Thank you again for confirming that God is always able!
With two boys, 4 and 2, your story could not have come at a better time. Thank you for being honest. Just when I was starting to think that I was the only one.
[email protected]
Heather
I have two sons; their ages are 17 and 2. Unfortunately it has been a long time since I felt like “gold”. I prayed for children (God has a sense of humor 15 years of refining) but my second pregnancy was rough; the baby was a preemie and we almost lost him. I praise the Lord that he is doing well. Believe me my kids are my life and I thank God dearly for them.
The gold that I’m referring to is the one described in Job 23:10 (when He has tried me I shall come forth as pure gold). “Pure” is not what I learned in life so discouragement is what I face and feelings of uselessness and un-fulfillment is what I know best. I love my family but I feel like I have to please everyone and at the end of the day I am left empty.
I work outside of home so I have many hats to wear and I always feel that I am separating myself into many. I have a lot of dirt in my life so I can’t wait for the day for the Lord to display me as refined gold.
Princess
[email protected]
Renee,wWhat a blessing to have God speak to me this morning through your devotion, digging through my dirt to encourage me that there is gold somewhere deep in my heart.
I am a single parent to two beautiful and intelligent daughters, ages 12 and 14. I can see the gold underneath the dirt in them but somehow I seem to fail at helping them discover the gold God has within them.
Due to our circumstances, one daughter believes God has abandoned her and refuses to acknowledge God’s presence or purpose for her existence. Which of course breaks my heart. However, God is right here with us and I know God will not stop loving her. I just continue to pray for her, trying subtly to show her the nuggets of gold that is within her.
Thanks so much for sharing as God leads you.
In His grip!
Karen
Wow I have seriously been struggling with this and was deciding when I was going to go to a Christian Bookstore and wander up and down the mom isle. 🙂 I was looking forward to it but also overwhelmed by where to start. I have so been that mom lately trapped in guilt over things I’m not doing and most of all like you said comparing myself to everyone around me. I think a nasty habit I have fallen into lately is comparing myself to moms who have these awesome blogs when of course really, honestly noone shows the not so great pics of their kids and the nitty gritty moments around the house. There’s not a tantrum picture to be seen anywhere??? 🙂 And such an exciting thing my husband and I have been called to do is adopt a child from another country, something we KNOW is a calling in our life and I have been struggling with how I am going to be the mom I’m supposed to be to this child when I feel this way about the two I already have…. But praise to the Lord who has been stirring my heart lately about this same thing and led me to the Crosswalk devotion today and then here. I am not going to let Satan trap me in guilt! Thank you thank you thank you for this today! Praise God for leading me on this path to be the mother I am supposed to be!
Wendy
[email protected]
Thank you so much for this devotional today, Renee. I can relate to this on every level. My three girls are 2, 4, and 8. I often feel like handing in my pink slip, and have been known to lock myself in the closet to escape the arguing of my kids….I am so encouraged today. My heart is lifted, and I am going to go gold-mining starting today!
[email protected]
Renee,
Your devotional and blog post today couldn’t have come at a more perfect time. I have a 2 year old and one on the way! Here lately, I have become a tad discouraged and frustrated in my mothering. I’m not nearly as good at it as I always thought I would be – leaving me feeling like I’m worlds away from that Proverbs 31 lady in the Bible 🙂
Thanks so much for the encouragement:) Have a nice day!
“Finding meaning in the monotony” right along with you,
Kate 🙂
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wow, look how the comments have grown. This is really catching on. I'm so thankful you're doing this.
I heard your interview on KSBJ with Liz Jordan yesterday! WooHoo, I can't wait until tomorrow. GNO!!!
Paula G. <><
Hi, I really needed this today. I have a nine year old girlie girl that I homeschool and a 5 year old B-O-Y. He’s not just a boy, he a B-O-Y boy. There are times when I can see the gold in him, and I do see the dirt too. I’m just afraid that when (and if) I send him to school, or wherever we go, no one else will see the gold through the dirt!
My 9yo is generally easy to deal with, although pretty emotional…but what girl isn’t???
I guess I need to start by making a list of their positive traits and share that with them. It’s far easier for me to be critical than positive, and I don’t want my critical-ness to rub off on my kids (anymore than it already has!) Thanks for giving me a starting point!
[email protected]
Thank you. I really needed this. Our oldest son is 18 and really struggling right now. Our daughter is 8 and our youngest son is 6 and has autism. Some days I have really felt discouraged because we tried for years to have a baby. Most of my life I longed to be a mother and now a lot of days I just feel overwhelmed with the struggles. Now having that picture that those struggles are just moving through the dirt to the real gold that lies beneath will really help me focus again on what really matters.
[email protected]
Renee,
Thanks for your encouragement. My husband and I have two daughters,ages 12 and 10. I can so identify with your feelings when our girls were toddlers as well. I am such a more confident mom now because of the healing Christ has done in my life as I have grown in my walk with Him.
[email protected]
Thanks so much for your devotional today, the scripture out of Psalms was exactly what I needed. Now I need to finish reading the whole chapter. The mining for gold activity I am going to read again and work on changing my perspective, with God’s help of course. Our children are Alexis, 6 1/2 in 1st grade and Andrew almost 4. Charlene [email protected]
Renee…..Wow did that hit me like a ton of bricks. I have been in that “ma blah” this week and experiencing this very thing. I am so thankful my friend sent me your blogsite. My husband and I have two boys 19 and 16 and we also have two adopted daughters 6 and 8.(from birth) We are amazed at all four children and thank God each day for them but often forget how to mine for the gold when facing daily challenges. It was also such a reminder of how special each of us are to God. Our youngest daughther faces things the other three never will…(prenatal drug exposure). I will be focusing on the “gold” now. Her name is Hebrew for God has answered!!! (Eliana) She is such an answer to prayer and God’s amazing love and grace in our lives.
Thanks for sharing….it will leave beautiful heartprints on others!
Renee- I’m sure every Mom out there can relate. There is something about when your children are at that toddler or baby stage that really makes us see ourselves as failing. It must be a combination of that lack of sleep, and the responsibility being a Mom is- especially if we are trying to do it all on our own! Isn’t it wonderful that we serve an amazing, faithful God who is right there to pick us up and help us. We just need to ask.
My children are 12, 9, 7 and 4. In a few weeks I will officially be the Mom of a teenager!
I see you are reading My Single Mom Life by Angela Thomas. I highly recommend it. I am so glad! I am excited to see that P31 is going to have a ministry for single moms.
Since August that is now what I am after 15 years of marriage. Very sad.
Yet- God is here, meeting me everyday!
Thank you for your ministry to so many. It is daily encouragement to me in my journey of serving our loving God.
In Him,
Cory-Lynn
Renee, I really appreciate your devotion today as I am struggling. I have a 23 month old and a 3 year old and I often feel like they are running circles around me. I am a young disabled Veteran with a lot of health issues(my husband’s calls it our 3rd child) and I often get discouraged because I see other moms that are so good with their children. I am so really wanting to reach my girls at the heart level and sometimes I wonder as my 1 year old slaps my 3 year old for no reason other than being just mad, if I am even reaching them. I want to become a Gold-Mining mom. Thank you for your thoughts, it was encouraging. Janice [email protected]
Thank you for your devotional. I often feel like I am failing my children. I have three; a son 23, a son 18 and a daughter 14. They each have Tourettes & ADD and some days are overwhelming. The parenting does not stop once they turn 18, it brings other issues and concerns. I often feel I'm not doing enough or the right things to help them, and get discouraged with their choices. However, I feel so completely blessed and overflowing love for each of them, amazed that God would trust me with their care. I'm sure I drive them crazy sometimes! I know, and have seen the gold in each of my children, but there are days where discouragement gets the better of me. I know God has a plan for their lives, but reminders like P31devotions are needed on the tough days. A reminder that the Lord is right by my side and waiting to hear from me. Thank you for the reminder to keep digging for the gold in my 3 beautiful blessings!
MB
Renee,
Thanks for your thoughts. They ring very true to my heart. I am a homeschooling mom of three kids, ages 12,9 and 6. I will mine for gold today instead of focusing on the big clods of dirt that seem to always be in the way. Blessings to you.
Kim
I’m hoping to look at my children through different eyes this morning. I know there is gold in there! I have three children, ages 7, 8 and 11. They are my joy even when I’m ready to climb the walls. Thank you for your words of wisdom.
Adella
I loved the devotional and blog post today. I have 3 little girls – ages 5, 3 1/2 and 2.
Thank you for the reminder that God always sees the gold in us and to let Him be our goldminer..
Kim
Wow.
My son just turned 3, is brilliant, beautiful, so sensitive in spirit to God’s voice at a young age… and has the capacity to send me into dizzying tailspins of frustration and hurt.
If ever there were a word picture of my life it was the part where you wrote: “My feelings of inadequacy and thoughts of insecurity were held up in comparison to moms who… adorned themselves with attitudes of grace and wisdom. I wondered how in the world they pulled it off with a smile? I could barely get a shower, get my kids dressed, or get us out the door before lunch!”
That was my MORNING… and of course, we were late again. But I know God is knocking on the door of my heart, reminding me that in my strength I can accomplish nothing, but cloaked in Him, nothing is impossible. Wish I could put on that coat everyday.
Thanks for the word of hope…
Joy, [email protected]
Good Morning Renee,
What a wonderful morning devotion. One that stirs my heart up and makes me want to become a better wife and mother. I felt like the layers of dirt were starting to fall off just reading words of encouragement. I have three sons. Adam-20, Joel-18, and Tyler-17. My life as been very full with them and I feel like I am on the next journey with them as young men. I need to draw closer to God more than ever. Knowing that HE created me and I am worthy of HIS love and I need to love and encourage my sons. Thank you for the devotion. Blessings,
Kristina
Your devotion today couldn’t have had more perfect timing. I was feeling the same way you were. I feel very discouraged because I feel like I have to do it all…and I can’t. Thank you for following God’s leading. And please pray for me. My children are 11, almost 7 and 4. Two boys and a girl. My boys are the older two and both have special needs. They are mild in the scope of things…but still a challenge.
Dear Renee ~ about 4 months ago I became really unsatisfied with life because I had no REAL purpose. That is, I was focusing all my energy on things that don’t matter in eternity, things like perfecting “myself” like exercise, diet, a perfectly organized home, nice clothes, etc. I was so fixated on my image I rarely stopped to truly “see” my children. God helped me realize my drive for perfecting myself was damaging everyone around me and that I would never find true satisfaction in these things. That’s when I really began to burrow into God’s living word. He has begun a wonderful transformation inside me, one I can’t describe with words. The transformation is not complete, and my growing in God will never cease, but thank God the seed is growing and I’m weeding out all the junk that was trying to choke out the seed. Now I’m beginning to focus all my energy on relationships. I so desire to feed my children’s physical, spiritual and emotional needs, and nurture them out of the love, not out of obligation. I just found your web-site through the Proverbs 31 ministries website and I’m looking forward to learning how you’ve become a Can-Do Mom so I can imitate you.
My three daughters names are Beth (age 12), Bailey (age 6) and Ava (age 16 months).
Choosing HIS purpose as my service, Amanda Tolstad
Renee, your devotional was just what I needed. I was really discouraged yesterday and came to the point where I just had to tell God that He was going to have to take over. I have 6 children from 8 years to 3 months. I also homeschool…so….it can get a bit stressful at times.
Thanks so much,
Debbie
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I have four sons from the ages of 13 all the way up to 34. My heart is always in so many directions when I pray for my boys and my daughter-in-law and my four grandchildren. I have off and on felt like I wasn’t a good mom or grandmom. When I let my thoughts go on and on about me not being a great mom and gmom, I know that Satan is crossing his arms and smiling because I feel bad about myself. I love the Lord with all of my heart and talk with Him nonstop, that is what helps me from believing the lies.
[email protected]
I am a Mom of 8 and a Nana to 3 (and counting)- my two youngest, our “bonus babies” are now a junior and senior in high school and I MISS the days of being a mom at home with all my little ones- though at the time there were days when I “wished these days away” as I felt like a failure with too much to do, too little time (and sometimes little patience) For all of you still in the midst of the mess and the diapers and the strong willed children, hang in there, this too will pass and then it will seem like it passed so quickly.