Via Home Sanctuary

Today’s post has nothing really to do with design or interiors.  This post is an article that a friend discovered and shared on Facebook.  It struck a chord with me and I wanted to share the lovely words that Home Sanctuary.com has said about mum’s with older kids.

The words that Rachel Anne Ridge has written are so true and here are some extracts from the Home Sanctuary website.  I hope the Mums with older kids can relate.

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Remember when it was easy to post photos of your adorable baby, or messy toddler on Facebook? Remember how you could publicly bemoan sleepless nights, and kids pooping in the bathtub? How your fridge was full of magnets and fingerpaintings that were impossible to tell what they depicted? You could talk to your friends during playgroups, and get support during those naughty tantrums? Remember how you could Instagram just about any part of the chaos and it was still cute?

It’s not that easy anymore.

It’s hard to snap a photo that your middle schooler will approve of you posting on Facebook. You don’t really want to share about your son’s behavior when you take away the Xbox. You can’t really talk about the grades – good or bad – because your kid will be mad that you overshared. Your sleepless nights are caused by worry, not teething. You wonder about the influence of peers, not playgroups. Toys are now cars and electronic games.

There isn’t a lot of cute in the chaos. Instead, there is acne and braces and attitudes.

It can be a lonely time.

Oh, yes. There is a lot of joy, of course. You wouldn’t trade your kids for anything. But you just want to know that everything is going to be alright. That they’ll turn out ok. That they’ll grow up and make good decisions and all your hopes and dreams for them will come true.

And where are the other moms? Lots of them are back to work, juggling just like you. Most of them are in the car, driving their kids to soccer practice and track meets. All of them a lot more quiet these days. They are pulled in many directions.

I’ve noticed an conspicuous absence of mom-bloggers with older kids. A whole let less sharing and swapping of kid stories. Almost no teenage birthday party ideas on Pinterest. Mom conferences that seem to focus on young families.

The online world just sort of goes quiet for the moms of pre-teens, teenagers and young adults. Except for the scary stories of kids and families gone wrong. It’s not real comforting.

I’ve been thinking about you, mama.

I want you to know that you aren’t alone. These years with your older kids can be your best, even if you can’t post photos of them on Facebook very often, and nobody says “OMG So PRESH” anymore.

I want you to know a few things.

I want you to know that every middle schooler I have ever known was obnoxious…but all of them have grown into very nice young people.

I want you to know that your kid’s grades won’t ultimately determine how successful he will be in life.

Your daughter’s obsession with her hair will quietly end in college.

Your diligence in training them in good manners, though it looks absolutely hopeless now, will delight the person they will marry.

Your prayers for them will not go unanswered. You will not let God rest…and He will not let you down.

Braces come off, complexions clear, bodies grow. They become less awkward and more engaging.

You will lose your mind a thousand times…and find it, most of the time.

You will wish you could fast forward to graduation, and then cry your heart out when the day comes.

You hurt when they fail, you mourn over broken hearts, you wish they would show some gumption. You cry when they don’t get that prom date and you jump for joy when they make the basketball team.

And so much of it….you just can’t talk about.

Here is the link so you can read the rest.

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So much writing today, I hope those with older kids found this post interesting.