What I Wish I’d Known: Wisdom for Moms

Wisdom for Moms

By Whitney Biggs

My kids didn’t wear smocked dresses or monogramed items of any kind. I loved play dates with other mommies and consignment stores. I still think one glass of wine greatly enhances my parenting skills. (Because I know how short on time we all are, I just thought I’d let you know what type of “advice” this mom might give before you commit to actually reading this.)

I tend to be very grey and not detail-oriented so I’ve found the best way to make myself give clear, concise, and detailed answers is to use bullet points. YAY for bullet points!

• Make a bunch of mistakes and then apologize for them. We need more adults who can admit their mistakes and then apologize. It’s called taking responsibility and being accountable. Teach it early by example.
• Make sure the windows are all closed before the screaming commences. Then use the advice from above.
• Get them an alarm clock when they start Kindergarten. Make a BIG deal of how ALL the big kids use this to wake themselves up when they start school. Works like a charm.
• When they are rude to you it’s because they want attention, BUT they are not going about it in the correct way. Don’t fall for it! Separate from them until they can adjust the attitude.
• On fighting battles: If it is not a moral issue or a safety/health concern  DON’T enter the ring. In other words, let them have pink hair, wear the tacky outfit, spend an extra few minutes in the bath, or miss a bath completely (until this becomes a health concern.)

Now that my bullet points are complete, I can move onto the really good stuff. Here is what you have all been waiting for…The one and only answer you will ever need when raising children…

In exasperation, she asked God, “Why didn’t you send instructions with these things you call children? You could have tucked it in their belly buttons or put it on their eyelids so that we could read it while they sleep.”

“I did” he said.  “I whispered them to your heart so that when you came in search of the answers the first one you would hear is Love Them, the rest are just technicalities anyway.”

Whitney Biggs is the mother of two children ages 8 and 11, and also co-owner of Treasured Passages which has just introduced One little Mailbox, a new product for parents and children. Whitney and I are entrepreneurs-at-heart and like to catch up over coffee once in a while to find out what the other one is up to. You are so talented, Whitney. Thanks for sharing your wisdom with The Mommyhood!