Mum in Laws - Part 2

If you haven't read it already, try part one.

I feel I need to add something.  Ponder this -

You carry your baby inside you for nine months.  During this time, you feel it move, it's little kicks keep you awake all hours.  Your body carries the full brunt of the nurturing of this little life - feeding, growing, developing - putting the baby first before your own bodies needs.  Then, through one means or another - you give birth to this child.

You as parents then spend a great deal of time feeding, nurturing, loving, playing, encouraging - devoting yourself - to this little person.  You listen to them, you hear their problems and help them find solutions.  You are their number 1 fighter.  You pray for them.  You cry over them when they are sick, in pain or hurting - and you can't take it away. 

If you're a mother - you know this well.  Father's should too - though it's a little different.

You do this for twenty or so years.

One day, this little life leaves home.  If they are unattached, you are likely to still be their no. 1 back-stop and fighter when it comes to life's difficulties and tragedies.

But the day arrives - when they become attached, married, whatever you want to call it.  Suddenly the 'right' thing to do is stop all that - and give up what you have spent 20 years nurturing - to another person.  It certainly doesn't feel right, nor natural.

You are no longer your child's no. 1 fighter.  They no longer talk to you about everything and bring their problems and difficulties to you.  You know the challenges are there - because you're 'my-child-is-having-troubles' detecting device is well honed after 20 years.  You see it on their face, in their demeanour, in what they say - and don't say.

To be honest, I don't know how I will cope when the day arrives for me. 

I have reserved that from the moment my babies are born - they belong to God, not me.  Therefore, He alone has the right to give them - and take them away.  He then also has to take care of them.

I have also reserved that from the moment they are born - I am preparing them to leave.  Not in a selfish way - but in a way of hoping that if I spend 20 years knowing that I am preparing them to leave, hopefully when they go it will be a little less painful.

Is it any wonder that there are sometimes challenges when faced with in-laws?  It's a bit easier to understand now isn't it?

My sole desire from these posts, is that you will be inspired to see things from the other's point of view - and to aspire to a much greater relationship with those precious people you call in-laws.  You do have the ability to make your relationship better - if you want to.

Who knows, maybe it can encourage us mummies with kids at home still - to think about our response when the day arrives - and make it just a little easier.

Loving hearing your thoughts

x
Arna