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For Mothers

For Mothers: Anchors for our Children

This is for mothers — anchors for our children in this busy, hectic world

Matthew Perry (age 54) has died. He was the actor who played “Chandler” on Friends. Recently, he was found drowned in his jacuzzi, his body showing evidence of a heart attack…  How tragic! One element to this tragedy is that he felt he lived much of his childhood alone, as his parents divorced and each led busy lives. He said in his autobiography that he had led a lonely life. And now he has died prematurely, and alone.

Finding a balance

As mothers, we are concerned for our children. Yet today we also lead lives that take us away from the home more than in previous eras. How do we balance our children’s needs and our own?

Mothers, I think we need to find a balance between devotion to our children and building in them a healthy level of independence. Our children need room to discover themselves whilst also knowing we are an anchor for them.

It works both ways…

As my child has entered university, I realise I am free to allow my head space to go in new directions; as well, in my personal physical space, I need room to develop in new ways. 

And yet I’m also aware, I still need to be available — albeit to a reduced degree — for my son, because I’m his anchor. I’m not sure how I can find this balance, but it’s important I do this for us both. I need to explore new avenues in life so I don’t waste away. I need them for me. But I also need them for my son, so that he can be confident to explore his new life, knowing that I can flourish without him, yet secure in knowing that I’m still around as and when he might need me.

An anchor

What is an anchor? It’s the weight that prevents a boat from drifting. It’s the mechanism by which that boat can bob about without losing sight of it’s permanent location. It’s a weight that will cause the boat to drag — which is both a blessing (if you don’t want to get lost) and an annoyance (if you want to float about freely).

In summary, an anchor gives the boat total freedom when it is lifted and stored out of use, and total security when it is in the water.

Mums, we are an anchor for our children. We can help them to navigate the strange world, without getting lost. We are a base they can return to. We are a plumb line from which they can gauge their growth: their alteration from what was to what is to what they are becoming. And we are a moral compass — sometimes even their conscience — should they temporarily lose sense of their own.

Freedom

Parenting can feel imprisoning / oppressive if we put too much ownership on who our children are: for us, for them. We can think too much and / or interfere too much in their lives, rather than allow ourselves to let go (gradually) as they grow up so they can become independent entities, responsible for themselves and perhaps one day, their own family.

Parenting can also feel remote if we are too scantily involved in who are children are growing up to be. In all things, we need to find a balance, one that acts as an incentive to them to mature, while nurturing them into independence gradually.

And so

This post is to ask each of us to consider how we are managing to balance our own lives with that of our children. This will depend most upon the age of our child. They will most likely think 10 or 12 or 16 is older than we might think it is. Or we may release too much responsibility on them too early. Finding what is right for them is important, as it is for us to discover what is right for ourselves.

  1. There’s a necessary level of self sacrifice we need to make, I believe, in order to nurture our children.
  2. And yet, we need to give them space and freedom as they grow.
  3. Third, it’s also important we maintain our own identity and a purpose for ourselves beyond being a mum. 

Dependence & Autonomy

When our children are small, they need to be able to depend on us. As they mature and grow, they need to find their autonomy so they can be responsible and self reliant adults. That means we need to develop our autonomy too… whilst still being a dependable and constant anchor for them. 

If I’ve learned one thing about being a parent, it is self sacrifice. I’m still on the road to practicing it perfectly. That is a lifetime endeavour. But I’ve learned the joy of giving as a parent, perhaps more than in any other relationship. As I learn to give, and then to let go, of a relationship I’ve devoted so much to, it hurts. But it is also a joy to see my child grow into a responsible adult. AND in the process, I’ve learned as the anchor in his life, the more rock solid dependable I can be to him, the more fulfilled we both are. That is a fantastic reward for something that is the greatest of privileges.

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For Mothers

Advising other Mums

I’ve been a mum for 18 years. And a step mum for over 30 years. That means I know a bit about being a mother. I may not know a lot, but I do know a little.

So, when I see a new mum of a young one distressed… both the child and the mum distressed I mean… it’s hard to know whether to say anything to help or not. 

I mean, I may have the best of intentions but is it my place to say anything?

I think, regarding advising other mums, depends totally upon my relationship with the other mum. Have I been invited to advise? Have I even been invited to hold the baby? It’s too easy to see a problem and want to help. It’s important not to meddle or make things worse by sticking my nose in where it doesn’t belong.

But on the other hand, if I’m quite sure what I observe can be useful, it just might be a bit of advice or insight that’s helpful.

The most important thing is, can I sow love and encouragement? Or am I flaunting my opinion? Social media is full of opinion. Do I really need to offer mine?

Look inside first

Let’s examine our own hearts, to be sure we’re helpful, and then we might gently present our observations. Opinions: Nope! Observations: Maybe, but praying first… that the words we offer are life-giving and nurturing.

Mothers are fragile in some ways. We tend to feel vulnerable and want so much to help our children, no matter how much “experience” we have… don’t we? So let’s sow life, always. Let’s be the blessing our relationship with the other mum offers. And love, love, love. Then if there’s any time left, speak. Maybe. 

Proverbs 12:18 says, “There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, But the tongue of the wise promotes health.” Surely if that perspective is good enough for Solomon, it’s good enough for me.

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For Mothers

Hello Mums

I’d like to say “Hello” to any mum that might come across this blog stream. “Hello Mums!”

By way of introduction, I’m Rev Dr Sarah Tun. I’m a mum as well as being a watchman of the LORD, an author, an intercessor. Here, I’ll be sharing from my viewpoint, issues and thoughts as a mother. My aim is to share: to open up you the reader to me, so we can get closer and learn together how GOD is moulding us, shaping us in our roles as mothers (which never ends regardless the age of the offspring, so I’m told).

So here we go….

Today’s topic: A Mother’s Conscience.

Here is the question:

Do we ever get things 100% right? And if we do, do we ever allow ourselves the pleasure of enjoying we have got something 100% right?

My quick answer is to say, “Nope.” On the whole as a group, I speculate that we never can quite allow ourselves, by nature of the care and concern our biology or psychology provides, to say, “Yup, I got that perfect!”

Do you disagree? If so, how about this:

Have you ever thought you got something absolutely right? And how does the frequency of that compare to your thinking you got something absolutely wrong?

Why is it that — as I reckon it anyway — that we are predisposed to sabotaging ourselves? Could it be because we are predisposed to encouraging others and putting ourselves last.

What do you think?

Whether we are Mary types or Martha types* (see Luke10:38-42), whether we rest at Jesus’ feet (once the children are fed and we manage to have a quiet moment) or run around constantly to make sure everything is done which we think needs to be done, ultimately, resting is not easy for us is it? And when we do enjoy it, how long does it take before we feel regret? Yes, we can enjoy Jesus but we are predisposed are we not, to have an eye on our family and feel we’ve let someone else down if we’ve rested too long or enjoyed ourselves too much.

What are your thoughts? Do you agree or disagree? Feel like sharing your story? Please do!

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Reflections and Poetry

A New Thing: little ditty on a not-so-little matter

I am in a new place

Perfectly peaceful and assured;

Traveling in my child’s independence

I too, reap the reward.

Autonomy works two ways

Up and down a street;

He goes alone to venture forth

And I too am released.

Do not sweat the little things

Nor the milestones either;

Life is a journey of surprises

Whether passenger or driver.