Standing on My Mothers Shoulders

"You're an amazing woman."  My Mom said to me.

"I'm just trying to be like you."  I said in reply.

"Oh, I think you are above and beyond!"  My Mom said, most humbly.

Perhaps she's right.  Perhaps not.  But if she's right, it's only because she came before.  It's only because she broke some bonds, which have freed me to rise higher than she ever could, cause she was tied down... and then, she's put me on her shoulders to reach ever higher.

And that's just how it goes.  Each generation has made agreements.  Some of the agreements, surely, we believed would not be an issue.  Because we knew better than they did (before we arrived in these mortal tabernacles, who our parents are.  And we were sure, I believe, that they would overcome so much more (?) than they did, so the potential bonds we were agreeing to would be broken and the necessity of carrying burdens would be eased because they had broken and carried by them for us.

Regardless of the level or degree of their accomplishment, we have been freed far more than we can understand given our sight, level of comprehension of eternal matters, and so forth which are part and parcel of this life.

I know my Mom broke some very specific bindings as well as many other forms of bindings (I may not comprehend at this time) to which I'm certain I agreed to accept as part of my mortal sojourn before I was born (I'm not as well aquainted with my Dad's childhood to know if such is true of him, too).  But I do know to some small degree some of the bindings that my Mom broke, of those that were passed to her from her Mom and Dad.  She's freed me and my siblings by so doing.  What a blessing!

And so I am raised to stand on my Mother's shoulders by her life and efforts to live righteously and do as our Heavenly Father would have her do.  And so, I continue to try to be like her... to so live as to break bonds, fulfill agreements, and lift my own children.

Isn't that what we all do as parents!?!!??  :)

Should Parents Have the Right to Raise Their Children?

Well, I hope you know that I believe we DO have the right to raise our own children!

Apparently (and since I'm new to all this political stuff, you'll have to forgive me for not already knowing this!), the goings on in the highest Court of our Country have caused some legal confusion regarding the rights of parents to raise their own children.

Please click HERE to find out what I'm talking about. And then, as you contact your representatives (specifically Senators) about the general craziness on "Capitol Hill" (like the Health bills as well as ObamaCare), make sure you mention your support for SJ Resolution 16: Parental Rights Amendment. Make sure they know one of their constituents want them to uphold it.


ALSO,
I knew about the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. But I recently learned a bit more about it and MAN am I concerned. HJ Resolution 42 (I believe it is the House version of the above SJ Resolution, but I'm not absolutely sure on that yet) aspires to effect an amendment to the Constitution to legally and formally protect the parents of this country regarding their rights as parents.I believe we really need to make sure our leaders do NOT ratify the UN treaty... make sure to read the 20 points (a link in the next paragraph). In it you'll learn, among other things, that the treaty (like any treaty) would supercede the Constitution as the Law of the land in anything NOT specifically mentioned in it... since parenting (and the rights therein to educate [religious or otherwise] our children and care for them as we see fit) is NOT mentioned in our Constitution, basically we, as parents in the U.S. would lose all rights. We would live by the law of the treaty. Given what I'm learning about it, that's NOT okay with me!

The amendment specifies that parents have a fundamental right to direct the upbringing and education of their children, that the government of this country will not interfere unless they can prove a need to do so, and that no treaty may be adopted, nor any other form of international law can be employed to supersede parental rights guaranteed in the amendment.

Still, I'd rather not have to deal with an international quibble, would you? I hope you will read the link above and contact your Congressperson and/or Senator to find out if s/he is already a co-sponsor/supporter. If s/he is NOT, please encourage him/her to become one!

If you would like to stay abreast of this topic, I hope you will check out parentalrights.org because they have a lots of really good info and a simpler way to stay on top of the news regarding this subject. For instance, they have a page devoted to a sort of primer: 20 things you need to know about the CRC (Conventions on Right of the Child).



So, have you read some info? Would you like to DO something to make a difference in keeping our country away from ratification of this amazingly troubling treaty? Well, you can become a 10 and 2 volunteer! "Everyone's doing it." heeheehee Well, perhaps not, but we can really make a difference by helping others learn about this subject. Let's spread the word like wildfire... or grass-roots!!

If you WOULD like to do this, I'll even send you a stamp so that you can send me the $1. Did you read about it? Well, because I DO want to be a 10-2 volunteer, I'm supposed to get 10 people (thus the 10) to go HERE, input their info and then collect $1 (or ask you to donate it via their site) from each to send in to support the grassroots movement that this is growing. If you would like to NOT use your credit info online, I'll send the money in for you after I receive it here. Then, I ask one of you (and/or some other folks) if you would like to do this same thing and become a 10 and 2 volunteer, too (thus the 2). If you want a stamp, you can leave me a comment to direct me to your email or blog and we'll get more info exchanged. Easy peasy!




At the very least, please make sure you know about these two bits so that you can speak out if our Country starts to move in the wrong direction concerning these as it has been on so many other subjects as of late!

Making Tigger and How It Tells on My Parenting

Perhaps this sort of thing is true for most parents. Unfortunately, most people wear "church face" all too often. So, I really don't know. Most people won't confess the things they do wrong. They focus on the good and only admit the difficulties and atrocities* of their daily lives to a chosen few. Unfortunately I'm not one of the chosen few with many, so I don't think I have a real understanding of most others' families or the parents' feelings about their parenting.

Eyeore is a representation of me as a Mama because even though I may have had some "instructions" available, I didn't understand how what I was doing would effect the end product much of the time. So, I did what I could understand. That's the thing about crochet directions and wise counsel from parents and/or The Lord. Just because I can't visualize the result of something in crochet (but ESPECIALLY when Father directs it), doesn't negate the necessity or usefulness of it! I just didn't understand that then as I do now. As with Eyeore, I feel as if I see my mistakes in Ria. And I feel a depth of sorrow and heart acheyness that I don't have the ability to describe... even with my love of Words!

Ria is wonderful and amazing. She is far better than my parenting accounts for. I'm not saying she's a bad result at all. Rather, I'm taking responsibilty for some negatives that seem to originate from times when I didn't follow the "instructions" as I could and definitely should have.

Pooh is "better". Now, that doesn't mean Kat is better than Ria. Admittedly I have an easier time dealing with Kat, but I REALLY believe that has more to do with the fact that she's SO MUCH a mini-Jessie in SO MANY ways. Jess is difficult, but at least I know how to deal with him. Thus, in learning strategies that word in dealing with him, I understand more how to deal with her. Also, I think it could have a LOT to do with the fact that I never had to leave Kat every day during her first year of life, so I have a MUCH greater understanding of her than Ria. Even if Ria was just like Jess, I think my difficulties with her would still exist for the latter reason mentioned.

But Pooh IS better because I was more knowledgeable. I was more trusting of and in the instructions. I was more willing to do things that I didn't understand because I figured they were in there for some good reason or another. And THAT is definitely appropraitely broadened as a symbol of ME as a Mama! Will Kat be generally better than Ria? I have not a clue in the world. She's her OWN person... only time will answer that question. But I have to admit that when I see her, the mistakes that are MINE are less obviously apparent both to the naked eye AND any other observer. My pain over mistakes I know in her is not as heart achey.

Tigger is still in pieces. I'm confident, though, that when I finish this doll he will be almost perfect BECAUSE I follow the directions as closely as I can. I know that they are there for a reason and that they will result in a good end product. I don't try to figure out why the instructions are important along the way and then detmine if they should be followed. I follow them with little questioning in my mind. I have experience with the whole process and feel confident in my ability (almost totally lacking when I made Eyeore and not as firm when I made Pooh as it is now).

Does that mean that I'm confident that there will be even less for me to feel heart-achey over when I look at Tea when she's 5. No. Unfortunately my confidence as a crocheter is MUCH greater than that which I feel as a Mama. But, I do have a great hope that when I look at her I will see fewer mistakes made by me in my parenting of her! I have hope that my ability to understand and discern Father's Will AND my humility in application of it is making me into the Mama HE knows I can be. And THAT is all I want to do and be: what He knows is a possibility! He remembers me from time immemorial! He's the organizer and Father of my Spirit, but my intelligence existed with Him. So, He knows far better than I can even begin to comprehend or consider what my potential is and how to utilize my specialities. So, if I can continue on this path and realize His plan for me, I will have done something about which to feel great pleasure!

*Remember the (*) in the first paragraph? This is a comment about that word:
I am an English language person. I don't always use high diction, but I love adjectives and words in general. Please keep in mind that I love to write and am not, in actuality, referring to any real atrocity. The nature of the word means something beyond extreme. While I admit to some extremes, I don't actually think "atrocities" are or have been experienced in my life or family. Extreme difficulties and trials, perhaps. But no atrocities. It's hyperbole! It's a writing thing to keep or pique a reader's interest (if you weren't sure what hyperbole is).

This is the second part of a two part tale started HERE. So, if you'd like the rest of the story, click on over.

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