One of my favorite things is learning from other moms. I can sit for hours soaking in their war stories and encouragement. Yesterday Christie shared about how to survive some of motherhood’s worst storms.
Today, as Jackson and I gear up for our first year of Kindergarten, I went knocking on my friend Amanda’s door because I think she’s one of the spunkiest and most generous voices in this great big Internet. I hope you find as much comfort in her beautiful words as I did.
My daughter looks just like me. If it weren’t for the 70’s glow on my photos, it would be hard to tell us apart at the same age. We even have matching freckle constellations on our arms. I have to admit it warms my heart to know my stamp is on her for the rest of her life.
I also passed on some not-so-good things to her. She’s shy. I’m not so shy anymore but as a kid? Oh, it was painful. My mom did her best to help me conquer my fear. Like on my first day of kindergarten. She didn’t walk me into class. She didn’t hold my hand and take pictures of me at my desk. She put me on the bus, driven by a stranger surrounded by “big kids” and waved good-bye. I rode that bus all the way to school clutching my Care Bears backpack.
She wanted me to take that step of courage by myself. We had already checked out my class, my bus route and my school. I knew where to go. But doing it alone? It was a big deal for me.
And I did it.
Now it’s my daughter’s turn. The little freckle-armed girl that looks just like me started kindergarten last week. (KINDERGARTEN!) And instead of letting her hold my hand just a little longer, we strapped on her pink backpack and she walked into the school building alone.
I had to let her go by herself. I wanted her to see something. To see she can do things she thinks she can’t.
I had to let her go by herself because I wanted her to see Someone.
I wanted her to see and know that God was already there.
God is the Alpha and the Omega–that means, the Beginning and The End. It’s not that He’s seen the beginning and the end. He is the Beginning and the End.
He had already been to my daughter’s kindergarten class–even before she was born. He has already been to the end of her school year. To the end of her High School Graduation. He’s been to the end of her life.
He knows it. He’s intimately involved in it. He planned it. He wrote it.
So, if you’re like my mom, like me or even like my daughter, don’t be afraid of the future. Of change. Of the unknown. God has already been there. He’s there now. He’s preparing it for you. And He’s here. Preparing you for it. He’s leading you to that place. To His good end.
Amanda is a stay-at-home mom of two who blogs at OhAmanda.com and Impress Your Kids. In her former life, Amanda was a Children’s Pastor — overseeing, organizing and developing ministry for kids in nursery through middle school, but now that she is a mom, her “skills” are used up on her kids!
Thank you for sharing! My oldest is going to middle school this year and I am having a hard time “letting go.” Thank you for reminding me that God is always there and He’ll be there watching over her, protecting her.
Trusting God through it all
~Tasha
Each season is a new time for us to “let go”, huh? So, we’re constantly in the position to need to trust our kids to Him. Thanks for the middle school insight! ;)
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Oh Tasha! I’m with you … my daughter started middle school last week and I don’t think I’ve ever prayed as hard.
What a sweet post. As a teacher, I appreciate how hard the transition stages can be for parents and children (and teachers too, sometimes!). Wishing you a wonderful school year to come, full of His good things!
Cxx
Thank you! I’m so thankful for my daughter’s teachers who have helped immensely with this transition. It’s honestly been surprisingly fun! :)
Thank you sweet Lisa-Jo for sharing your blog with little old me. Praying your son’s first day of kindergarten is a sweet transition and a fun day for both of you! :)
Why, oh why, do I read your blog right before I have to go shepard little ones like your daughter at school? I’ve smeared my eye make up with tears. Please know that we value your kids just as much as you do.
Thank you! My teacher signs her emails to us, “I love your kids!” and it *does* make it better knowing they are being loved by folks like you! ;)
Amanda, you so beautifully put into words what I have always thought–God goes before us. He also goes behind us. He is with us, and our kids, always.
Waaaayy back when, when my husband and I were deciding school choices for our kids, we decided one thing for sure: we would not make choices based on fear. Primarily because of what you’ve written here.
What awesome words for all of us!
That’s it, Shelly! A few years ago I reconnected with a middle school friend–as adults we had the same aged kids, lived in the same area, etc. And I could see God’s hand on us waaay back in 8th grade–connecting us as friends then so we could encourage each other as adults and moms now. And it gave me encouragement then (when Lydia was only 2 or 3) that God was already preparing her friends and her teachers. He knows who she’s going to sit next to and who her best friend will be. Fear has no place when we are trusting God with our kids. Thank you for the great reminder!
I love this: “don’t be afraid of the future. Of change. Of the unknown. God has already been there.” I’m expecting my second little boy in 2 months (!) and have struggled with worrying about the unknown. It’s so comforting to remember that God has been there, that He already knows the joys and the pains, and has planned them all for His good purpose. I’ll be coming back to this post… thank you. :)
Love this one today. It is so very true. And just think what you are teaching them when you allow them to succeed one step at a time!! I love the fact that you are teaching her that God is always there for her, even when you can’t be. What a wonderful gift!
Thank you for this. I have one starting Kindergarten and one starting preschool in just over a week. I am finding myself a bit more anxious every day. Thank you for the reminder that He is watching over them even when I cannot.
That was beautiful.
Wonderful insight, Amanda. Another thing your little ones learn when you ‘let go’ is that you trust them. You showed her the bus route, the school and the classroom. Then you showed her that you trusted her to get where she was supposed to be. Well done!
Great words of encouragement … Needed this today :)
Having done it both ways…I now read all this and my heart cries out “Oh, Mamas…consider home schooling those precious children!”
What a great picture of what it means to trust our kids into the capable hands of the Ultimate Parent. What a good reminder to unclinch the fists a little more . .. okay, maybe a lot more.
Thanks for sharing this today!