A few days ago I read this post. It was just what I needed. In our diverse world, there are so many different theories on how to raise children. And depending on where you are, whether that be Paris, New York, Three Hills, Alberta, or Cambridge, England you will always find somebody more than willing to tell you what is right and what is wrong. In Alberta, I was one of few moms that worked and here in Cambridge, I go to playgroups filled with nannies. So tell me, will the children in Alberta turn out to be any better citizens than those here in Cambridge?
Last week, I talked about dreams and many of you commented on how you too, dreamed. Some even said what those dreams were. For a few, it was to become a wife and a mother, for others it included vocational goals, travel aspirations or a general milieu for living out each beautiful day. I found our conversation invigorating and inspirational. One of my favourite comments was,
“I believe that to have the ability to dream is a gift. I remember reading about children living in devastating conditions–they don’t know how to dream, because they don’t know it’s possible. I remember seeing African Children’s choir as each child got up to introduce themselves with their name and what they want to be when they grow up. I cried! They are able to dream. Also, for me–to dream is not necessarily about having check marks beside the list. I realized that when I dream, I discover myself more. I discover what makes me passionate, what makes me happy, what my gifts are. I am learning to dream impossible dreams.”
God has given us these passions and gifts for a reason and for some of us, in means a life outside the home and that’s okay. I feel like it has been a while since somebody told me that is was okay to have dreams outside of being a mother. It is okay to dream of going back to school, or working outside of the home or travelling without my children.
It does not mean they are not my world and one of my top priorities. It doesn’t mean I will love them any less. It does not mean that I will not do my best to raise them to be followers of Jesus and positively contributing members of society.
It does mean that there are intellectual parts of me that are not always satisfied by trying to figure out Ella’s next speech strategy. It does mean that there is a creative longing inside me that cannot be fed with potato stampers and crayons. It does mean that it is okay to take time for me and I don’t have to feel guilty about it.
Because here is the thing, when we dream and we go after our dreams, our children see that. Jakob and Ella, do you remember how your Daddy wanted to become a conductor so we moved to Cambridge, England?
You can do that too.
You can do anything,
be anything and
go anywhere your mind can take you.
Never. Stop. Dreaming.
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