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“In four more years, they will be gone and life will get less stressful!” My friend said with

a chuckle after a deep conversation about parenting teenagers.  

My response was silence, as the reality of what she said sank in deep. In four more years,

our daughter will finish high school and leave for college. At the same time, our son will

enter high school. Seemed just yesterday they were toddlers, and such thoughts were far away. 

Raising kids is stressful. The older they get and the more they face the world independently,

the harder parenting becomes. Watching kids face moral decisions in an often immoral world

is daunting.  There are just some things we cannot do for our children, some battles they must

face on their own.  Even when we don’t like their decisions, we must love them through the

consequences. Does that get any easier, ever?   

It was then images of my own mom flooded my mind. “Less stressful? I don’t think so!” Even

though we were half joking, my response was serious. “My mom is 74 years old, and is still

very much involved in the lives of her five adult children!”   

Our parents divorced when we were young. Mom was left to raise five kids on her own. With

little education, she struggled month after month to make ends meet. Even now, she recalls

the difficulty: “There were some months the numbers just did not add up. We had more bills

than money, but it always worked out.” She smiles as she remembers.  

We were the poster family for a dysfunctional home. Our dad, an alcoholic, was in and out of

our lives, he married and divorced several times. Mom was the foundation, often working

two jobs. Even in the midst of chaos, we never doubted we were loved by her.     

Today, my siblings and I are busy with our own jobs and families and living in five different

states. Nonetheless, we still each call on mom. When a husband loses his job, she hurts

with us. When a grandchild faces a crisis, she gets on her knees and prays. When one of

us is facing a diagnosis from a doctor, she provides faith and comfort that only she can give.

At every age and stage, she is still a mom.  

As a parent, I’ve learned some valuable truths. There is no perfect family upbringing.  No

parent gets it all right. It’s doubtful anyone can look back on their own childhood and say

all was just right and good with their world. But if you can look back and see love and

commitment, you are a blessed child of a mom somewhere.  

Being a mom is the best job I’ve ever had.  I am thankful to mine that she is still just as

much a mom today as she was when I was toddling around. My prayer is that one day I’ll

be 74 years old, and my kids will say the same.  

Happy Mothers Day to all Moms!