Looking Back on What Mothers Taught Us

A few months back, my wonderful and loving daughter gifted me with three hard-bound books on parenting. I was quite amazed of her display of love and affection to me for she knows that I love reading books but more so because she saved that much from her monthly allowance if only to buy those books for me. But as of today, I am not yet through reading with any of the three, but had already started the one titled: “The Wonder of Girls” by Michael Gurian, also the author of “The Wonder of Boys.”

While leafing through the pages to find the most interesting chapter or part, as I always do when I read a book, because I don’t usually read from cover to cover, I came across a very interesting article of which I wish to share to other parents like me. It’s a conclusion of the chapter: The Artful Mother: What Girls Need.

It’s a humorous look at mothering which the author received via e-mail and included it in his book. It goes this way:

My mother taught me about stamina:

“You’ll sit there ‘til all that spinach is finished.”

My mother taught me about contortionism:

“Will you look at the dirt on the back of your neck?”

My mother taught me about the circle of life:

“I brought you into this world, I can take you out!”

My mother taught me about weather:

“It looks as if a tornado swept through your room!”

My mother taught me to appreciate a job well done:

“If you’re going to kill each other, do it outside, I just finished cleaning!”

My mother taught me how to solve physics problems:

“If I yelled because I saw a meteor coming at you, would you listen then?”

My mother taught me about hypocrisy:

“If I told you once, I’ve told you a million times: Don’t exaggerate!”

My mother taught me how to be psychic:

“I think you know what’s gonna happen when your father goes home!”

And, my mother taught me logic:

“Because I said so, that’s why!”

Mothering is truly one of the most difficult jobs on earth, and requires more courage than anyone ever measures. Perhaps the greatest courage is required when a daughter leaves home, like my own daughter. On most nights I am sleepless, thinking how my daughter is coping with in the new world where she is now exposed. It’s my constant petition to the Lord that He will always protect her from all kinds of evil things.

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