How Children Help Us Grow Up

I heartily agree with these comments by Australian designer Catherine Martin.

"Having children forced me to grow up. I enjoy life and don't tend to be as self-conscious or self-critical. I think it's one of the traits of creative people that you feel like an impostor and that you aren't interesting enough, but as you get older and have children it forces you to stop being childish."

I know I put off having children for years because I just didn't feel I was mature enough to be someone else's mom. I hadn't had a nurturing experience as a child and adolescent and the thought that I might inflict my emotional baggage on the next generation was chilling.

Having the girls has definitely opened up a side of me I didn't know existed. Now I know I can be nurturing, that I do have maternal instincts after all (whew!).

I may not have all the answers, but God will equip me to be the best mother to my children as I long as I remain in Him and remember that He loves them more than I do.