Sunday, January 31, 2016

Communication, Communication, Communication

"As you can see our job is not done, our job just started, teen age children need as much love and support as toddlers do." ~ Beta Metani'Marashi

A counselor by trade, I find that my knowledge and expertise produces little result with my own teen-aged daughter. My work with parents and conversations with friends proves I am not alone in this fiery ring of purgatory. 

"A great challenge for parents is how to prepare themselves for being successful in advising our children." ~ Eraldo Banovac

Most attempts at communication with my fifteen year old are a challenge and according to her, I have not been right about anything since her tenth birthday. As a result, I am constantly reminding myself that my daughter is a gift from the womb of the Creator's mind and it is there I must always return for guidance. 

"An ever-growing, ever-constant relationship with God makes us certain of what we believe and enables us to run with endurance." ~ Katy Kaufman

Walking the hot coals of the parenting path as part of my soul growth means at times, I must slow my pace and experience the heat of the lesson. Reflecting upon who I was at her age, and rediscovering any soil within me yet to be excavated or overturned and determining what each block in our mother daughter experience is attempting to teach me. 

When I do this, God never fails to hold up the mirror that is my little girl reflecting His wisdom back at me. As she challenges me, my only jobs are to trust Him and keep loving her. My good or bad "mommy ego" has nothing to do with what my daughter needs. 

The Creator reminds me that communicating with my daughter is threefold and starts with seeking clarity of, in, and through Him.  He knows the mothering my daughter needs most and He knows the places within me, her mother, needing yet to be healed. 

As I rely upon this wisdom, He is communicating to and through us both.

"... you are my rainbow to keep. My eyes will always be watching you; never will I lose sight of you." ~ Vesna Bailey

Have you been communicating with your children through your "mommy ego"?
Are you allowing the Creator to speak to you through your children?
What lessons are you learning as you walk the hot coals of your parenting path?