10 Lessons Learned in Motherhood

 

In honor of Mother’s Day we have some lessons learned in motherhood, a new digital scrapbook layout for you and some great digital scrapbooking products to view, some of which Isabella used in this layout.

And now some advanced warning for any unsuspecting mom-to-be out there …

 

 

1. Once you have a child you lose half your brain

… and if you have any more than two, there is no hope for you!

I was told this by a stranger-soon-to-be-new-friend one day while at a coffee morning or some such event, when my toddler and the baby were playing quietly at my feet. She did not know my daughter, who was 4 at the time, was at playgroup that morning.

So there was no hope for me!

Here are some great examples of how other scrappers honored their moms - or were honored by their families for Mother’s Day 2008. Mother’s Day Recipe Scrapbook - My daughter’s gift She wrote comments throughout and memories of when we ate some of those things. Honestly–made me want to just burst out in tears! Tell me about your Mother’s Day… 10 Months Old & Mother’s Day! - This mom received a scrapbooking day in a kid-free zone! Michael gave me a scrapbooking day on Saturday, and took both kids out for several hours before their naptimes so I could have uninterrupted scrapbooking time. Heaven! I’m caught up to November! Woo-hoo! While they were out, …

2. Not to be afraid to be different

… because if I am my children will be too.

Don’t conform to everything you see, learn what’s better and do that.

3. What it means to love unconditionally

There were many times I did not like what my children did, and even some times when I really did not like them (teens!) But I would no more stop loving them and caring about what happens to them than I could stop breathing.

4. Just how much God loves us

I knew the Bible says God loves us despite the things we do wrong and sent Jesus to be our Savior, but it was only in loving my children despite what they did that I ’saw it in action’ as it were and got a deeper understanding and appreciation of God’s love for us - for me.

5. Perseverance: Not to give up

I am an enthusiastic starter. I love new beginnings whether it’s a new craft, a new house or making new friends.

What I did not realize when I started a family was how much that would be tested over the years. There were times when the going got tough and I wanted to run away. But being a parent was not something I could stop whenever I’d had enough. I had to keep going, to be there when (my husband or) my kids needed me.

Doing the right thing - even if for the wrong reason is sometimes the right thing to do.

6. Some things are worth fighting for

Learning what is important and must be held on to, and what can give way. I was forced to think again and again where to pick the battles; what values were worth defending and fighting strong-willed children to preserve and what it was safe to let them have their way in.

7. Acceptance - unconditional

Seeing a child walk up to her father, climb onto his lap and into his arms knowing it was her place of total acceptance was another very powerful lesson of what it is like to be in God’s family. There is no hint of rejection - only acceptance because of the relationship which is so close and understood on both sides.

More examples - from Mother’s Day 2008. Mother’s Day Gift Album - Outstanding example of excellent design by a ScrapGirls scrapper With acknowledgement to the talented designer who made designing this entire album possible … And now…a heart-warming story… - How a scrapbook gift eased painful memories for one mom Amanda and I first met when we were both part of an online scrapbooking swap group. That group was fun for a while, and then one day the owner decided she just couldn’t handle keeping it up any more. We abandoned ship and joined another …

8. Habits are caught not taught

As a child my mother used to say, ‘Don’t do as I do, do as I say.’

I never thought I’d hear myself saying the same thing as I’m caught out again in habits I don’t notice I have or see my children developing.

When we live closely with someone we copy them. In pointing out how they were catching bad habits from me, I encouraged my children to be aware of who they were mixing with and to choose their friends wisely, and also to impress on them that they are role models for their friends and younger siblings.

9. Not to show favorites

I tried hard not to show favoritism to one child over another. Each was my favorite for different things and in different ways, but life is competitive enough without setting one child against his brother.

10. To be thankful my husband was with me in it

Being a parent myself has given me enormous gratitude for my own mother who was a single-parent. I’m very thankful my husband has been part of raising our kids, for it is difficult enough at times with two of us on the job. He was often away on business and it must have been quite frustrating coming back to sort out the arguments between wife and teenagers! I’m thankful my husband took his responsibilities seriously.

11. To be even more thankful God is with me through it all

He is on our side, routing for us and wanting us to succeed. I was so thankful to learn that lesson.

OK, I know that’s more than ten … think of it as a bonus, LOL! I’m sure I learned even more lessons than that, but these are the ones that come to mind at the moment. Perhaps we can discuss others at another time - if I remember them!

This is why I wish I’d learned scrapbooking earlier, either that or been a journal keeper. Heigh-ho! I am what I am and glad of it because others need my spontaneity.

Isabella’s layout honoring her mother.

To see a bigger image go to Layout for Mother’s Day

The materials used are listed below.

If you click on a link you will go to a page showing the product and giving examples of how to use it.

Patternologie Collection Biggie

Up at the Villa Collection Biggie

Torn Pieces

ScrapSimple Embellishment Templates Lifted Photos Biggie

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ScrapGirls Freebies

Scrap Girls give away free digital products 6 times a week in their Newsletter You’ll also get tutorials, scrapbooking layout ideas and more.

These items were used in this layout and were free with earlier newsletters:

CFR_BLP_WhitePearlPin
SG_EternalLove_STI_WordArt_cherish
JHI_Embell_Lace_Set1_Special

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So, a combination of lessons learned in Motherhood, a scrapbooking layout honoring one mother for you to scraplift if you wish and some great digital scrapbooking products. Thanks for reading this far!

[tags]digital scrapbooking layouts, Mother’s Day, digital scrapbooking products[/tags]