Daily Dunklin Democrat

Time Out--"Did You Do Your Job?"

Posted Wednesday, May 14, 2008, at 2:23 PM
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With high school commencement ceremonies upon us I have decided to share a favorite quote borrowed from a book I recently began reading called "The Mom's Book" (For the Mom Who's Best at Everything).

The author is unknown, but the message is deep, not only for me as a mother of two young boys who will one day be at this crossroad, but also for those women who are already embarking on new experiences in their roles as mothers of high school graduates.

"A mother's job is to be there when her children need her, but to bring them up so that they don't." -Author Unknown

These words really make a mom think about what her purpose really is in raising her children. According to the quote, the objective is simple. But is it really that simple?

As high school seniors receive their diplomas they become young adults entering into a whole new world. A world where they are no longer sheltered and protected. A world where THEY (not you) determine what lies ahead.

Will your children be ready? Did you do your job?

Comments
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I sure hope so. My kids are great kids, 3 out of 4 are honor roll student and 1 out of 4 has only missed one day of school due to sickness. I dont have to make them go, they want to go. They all want to go to summer school even though they dont have too. And best of all, 4 out of 4 are very polite.

So to answer your question Yeah ! I think so, I hope,,,hahaha

-- Posted by BadBones on Wed, May 14, 2008, at 3:58 PM

BadBones: I think we all hope we are doing our job as parents. I know I do. When I read this quote recently it made me think about things more deeply, especially after attending a recent graduation. I am guilty at times of making my kids depend on me for things they can honestly do themselves. I suppose it is just that protective mother instinct. But, there is a fine line between helping our children and enabling our children to remain dependent on us. I guess I tip toe on that line from time to time and need to learn to let my boys discover a little more freedom and self-dependency. Thanks for the comments!

-- Posted by deannacoronado on Wed, May 14, 2008, at 7:16 PM

after reading this blog, i have evaluated my relationship with my mother. now that i am grown with a family of my own, she feels as if i don't need her anymore. she is constantly trying to help me financially, mentally, etc. after constantly telling her that not needing her is a part of becoming an adult. she should be proud of the fact that my husband and i are trying to hold our own. i guess at times she thinks she did her job too well... ;) now i'm raising my children and ,though there's a great variance in age, you still try to give each of them their own independence. i now find myself stepping over the line from time to time. especially with my 19 mth old. as mothers we never want them to grow up!!! i guess as long as we are constantly encouraging and always mindful of their surroundings and try to raise them to the best of our abilities...then trust God to do the rest.

-- Posted by downhome on Fri, May 16, 2008, at 10:51 AM

Deanna, I have always worked in demanding jobs, often longer-than usual hours, travel, stress, and then volunteered for additional community work. I still have those moments where I feel I haven't done enough for my kids - I didn't have warm cookies and cold milk waiting for them at the end of a long school day; they learned to wash dishes and clothes, clean house, mow the yard, pick tomatoes and pitch watermelons because my husband and I needed them to help get those things done. A while back I told my daughter that I was sorry not to have done more things for her and she said "but, Mama, Rex (her brother) and I know how to do stuff..lots of my friends don't know how to do anything..they don't even know how to wash their own clothes!!" I have always thought that one of the best lessons that I could teach my children is to be independent of me, but boy that is a tough one. Hooray for all of the protective mothers and fathers out there, may we allow our children freedom in the most loving and positive way..

-- Posted by Jan McElwrath on Mon, Jun 2, 2008, at 5:15 PM