This week, my youngest child and only son started 6th grade. This makes me the mom of two adult children and two middle school students. Time is flying by so fast. Don’t get me wrong, I am excited for my children to grow up and become world changing adults, but I am in no rush.

When our oldest entered middle school, I was unequipped to handle her hormone fluctuations, peer issues, child-parent struggles, and physical changes. It was a scary time, yet a great learning experience for our entire family. Now, three girls later, I still feel slightly unprepared to help our son through his middle school years, but with God’s help I am sure it will be another valuable adventure.

So, in honor of our middle school milestone, I decided to re-post a blog entry about some ways having children has impacted my life. I hope you enjoy the post.

Children Make a Difference

Parenting takes a great deal of love, grace, effort, prayer, and perseverance. It is a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, priceless investment into the next generation.

I am the mother of four amazing people, three girls and one boy. They are a fun, lively, talented, creative, brilliant, loving, and giving bunch. I couldn’t imagine my life without them, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything!

As parents, we often concentrate on how our influence affects the children God has entrusted to us. How often do we consider the impact they make in our lives? I am not referring to the physical changes they create for us, such as stretchmarks, sleepless nights, joyful cuddles, weapon sharpening episodes, increased food/phone bills, basketball games, and slumber parties. I mean the character changes we experience, in great part, as a result of parenting.

Here are a some ways being a parent has changed me.

1) Parenting has made me less selfish. It is difficult to remain self-focused when your child depends on you for everything. Babies are selfish by nature; they have to be selfish to survive. I learned that, in order to parent in a decent manner, I had to become selfless. I needed to put my children’s needs above my own desires.

2) Parenting has increased my laughter. When children make messes all over the kitchen floor, you have a few choices – get angry, cry hysterically, or laugh about it. I learned to laugh. I laugh at their funny antics, such as doing something silly out in public or having a pillow fight and coming out covered in foam. I laugh with them, as they laugh uncontrollably at a less than funny situation or television show. Their laughter is contagious!

3) Parenting has taught me how to love unconditionally. One of my parenting jobs is to teach my children how to become world-changing adults. The process can be brutal. They learn to find their own way, and their way might not agree with what you have taught them. They may say hurtful things or occasionally respond in unloving ways. You get the privilege of loving them in spite of those times, and patiently watching them transform into greatness.

4) Parenting has given me the courage to be a better person. My kids don’t need a mediocre mom; they need a great one. Although I am not the best parent, I wake up every morning thinking about how to be a better person for them. My goal is to be a positive example of a godly wife, mom, mentor, colleague, and friend. I want to be the mom they are proud to be seen with and claim as theirs.

5) Parenting has taught me a great deal about humility. It is tough to say, “I’m sorry,” to a ten year old, after you accidentally hurt their feelings, or to a teenager when you promised to take them somewhere, but can’t keep your word because of tight finances. It is even harder to admit you were wrong when you completely misjudged your child’s whereabouts or actions. I have eaten more humble pie, in front of my kids, than I care to admit.

Of course, parenting is not the only way to gain these character qualities, but it is definitely a fast-track in character development. Life is also a great teacher for anyone, with or without children, who desires to learn these lessons.

To my readers who do not have their own children but can relate to this post as a relative, teacher, mentor, or caregiver, please know that your investment into our children is invaluable. I am in no way demeaning your part. I appreciate you!

Now it is your turn. I would like to hear from you, my readers, about ways your children, or those you care for, have impacted who you are today. Feel free to leave a comment with one or two ways they have changed your life.