Saturday 15 June 2013

A Prayer From A New Parent


Thank you, Lord for this little bundle of gorgeousness and love you've blessed our family with. We've waited a long time for this gift, so from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Thank you for trusting us with the immense job of raising this innocent wee child and guiding her into adulthood. It's a daunting task, this parenthood thing and we'll need some help along the way. I'm a little bit scared to tell you the truth.

First of all, please give me strength not to be a helicopter parent when she starts school. Being a teacher, I really (really) worry about this. Give me the strength to trust that her teachers understand that she is my treasure and like myself, they are doing the best they can... for all the children in their care (including my baby.) (This is of course irrelevant, should I ever become her teacher. In that case, please give me the strength to be my child's school teacher and the ability to separate home and school for the good of both of us!!)

Next, give me the common sense and strength not to spoil her silly. I already want to give her the world. Help me to teach her that material things and "stuff" are not what will to make her happiest. Give me the strength not to give in to her every whim (thank you, Mum & Dad for not giving in to my every whim) because I understand while some of her interests and passions will endure, many will be passing fancies.

Give me the guidance to teach her about the important things in life, without being preachy. Family, friends, love, gratitude, faith, kindness, confidence, determination and perseverance (at 5 months, she already seems to have those last two in spades!) to name but a few...

Help me become a better role model for her, so I can show her the afore mentioned "important things" and so she understands how vital it is that she take care of her health and maintain balance. Help me to be more confident and comfortable with my body, so my issues are not projected onto her. I want her to love herself and her body exactly the way it is.

How do I teach her to make good decisions? To be independent, yet ask for help when she needs it?

While I'm on that topic, please remind me to ask for help when I need it. I'm not Superwoman. I can't cope all the time, I know that, but it's hard to ask for help.

Back to my baby - make me strong enough to teach her the consequences of her actions, both positive and negative... especially when I have to dish out negative consequences - I'm sure at some point, I'll have to do it... I hope I'm not too soft.

Give me the strength to let her make her own mistakes and to learn from them, but also to let her go when the time comes.

Please let my daughter understand that physical beauty is not the be all and end all of existence. Let her know that her beauty lies within also. Intelligence, empathy, generosity and kindness are beautiful... let her find that balance between being kind and generous, without being a pushover. Teach her that it's okay to want to look nice and be 'pretty' (however she chooses to define it) but it's also more than okay to get dirty and play in mud puddles.

Let her know her self worth as a woman. That she is capable of greatness and of anything she puts her mind to. Let her know not to settle for a man (or woman) who doesn't love her and doesn't treat her with the respect that she deserves. Let her know that her heart will be broken, and it will mend itself in time, with the help of ice cream, cuddles, laughter and lots of love from her family and girlfriends.

Most of all, help me to convey to her that she can talk to us. Trust us. Turn to us when she's in trouble and know that we will be there to pick her up after she falls... sometimes we'll catch her, but we won't be able to all the time.

There's more. There will always be more when it comes to my precious baby. Just help me do right by her, please... whatever that may be.

Thank you.

Love,


3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on your little one's arrival! May the coming years be filled with happiness and joy and a sound and trusting relationship between you and your daughter. :-)

thegirlhassparke said...

I can't imagine how scary it is to be a parent - so much responsibility and no instruction manual!! I have no doubt though that you will do your very best and have a very happy little girl! xx

Anonymous said...

Thank you, ladies! It's definitely one heck of a learning curve, but it's pretty amazing. :) xx

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