Friday, May 9, 2014

Mom's Can Teach Us Much

As I was making our girls Easter dresses a few weeks back, I was struck by how much I DIDN'T take advantage of the wonderful talents my own mom had to offer.

She attempted to teach me so many things.

Sewing.

Crocheting.

Cake decorating.

Baking.

Cooking.

Quilting.

But.... as a teen I quickly learned that my mom was a 'doer'.

That's a good thing, right?  What does that have to do with not taking advantage of her talents?

Well, in a nutshell, I learned early on that since mom was such a 'hands on' kinda gal, I could get away with saying, "I don't get it.  I can't do it!" and she'd 'come to the rescue.

That's how much she loved me.

That translates to her taking my place and finishing whatever task it was she was trying to teach me to accomplish.

You see, my mom was a self taught seamstress, cake decorator, cook, crocheter, etc.  She could watch someone else do a task and then do it herself. She'd read books and then 'try it' for herself with great success. She practiced at the things she wanted to do.

So, one would think I'd be the same way.

But no.  I needed more guidance.  Plus, I was apparently a bit on the lazy side.

So, to you young ladies and girls out there.... I highly recommend you take FULL ADVANTAGE of the gifts and talents your mama has to offer.

Let her guide and teach you.  Dont' take the easy way out and say 'I can't' so she will do it for you.

For you mom's and older wiser women, take the time to teach the younger generations those skills you possess.

Share your talents.  Push a little to make them learn to do it for themselves.

I love my mom for all she did for me. She sacrificed..... She gave.... She loved unconditionally.

I just wish I'd been wise enough to also learn from her wonderful talents rather than 'playing dumb' so she'd do the work for me.

Now, as an adult, I'm needing to learn a lot more 'on my own' when I could have been taught by a woman who knows her stuff.

I'm blessed to have had a mom who TRIED to teach me. Who showed me over and over again so many valuable skills.  Who had TREMENDOUS talent to observe.  Who wanted to share her abilities and love for creativity.

Some of it did, in fact, sink in.

I'm attempting to teach our girls some of those same skills now.  I'm TRYING to NOT 'just do it for them' when they struggle and flounder.

It's hard to sit back and watch them do a task with 'less than perfect form' or in a manner that makes it so obviously more difficult.

I understand now, mom, why you often just 'did it for me'.  I made it easy for you to take over.  You wanted me to succeed, but since I wouldn't put forth the effort needed, you'd 'show me' again and again and again.

Thanks for all the time you put in.  It's because of you showing me that I have the interest now.  I only wish I'd listened more and tried harder when I was young.

It would have made a lot of things much easier as I became a mom myself.

I pray I can give my own children a love for many interests just as you instilled a fondness in me for such talents as sewing, crocheting, and cake decorating through your abilities and joy in taking part in such tasks.

Take advantage of the myriad of talents the women in your lives have to offer.  It really is.... invaluable!

Thanks, MOM!