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Sibling bonding, learning to work as a team, establishing one’s individuality - these are the great adventures we often get to witness as parents.
Parenting is the ultimate adventure.
It is an experience whose journey can be ambitious, a little tricky, at times downright difficult, and include all sorts of unexpected twists and turns along the way. Yet, its ultimate destination becomes a valuable and rewarding lifelong adventure.
Today Becky Mortensen, a Member of Southern Tier Mothers’ Center, is joining us on the Mothers Central Blog to share her own parenting adventures via a letter to her children.
Becky and her husband Ken live in Upstate New York with their two young girls - Lily (6) and Anna (3). In addition to being a mom, she works as a veterinarian and enjoys having a schedule that allows her to spend time with her family and fulfill her passion to take care of animals.
As if caring for other people’s animals weren’t enough, Becky and her family currently live on a small farm with a handful of their own animals including: horses, chickens, dogs and cats. Together they love to spend time as a family exploring their farm, the woods and the nature that is within their own backyard.
Here is Becky’s heartfelt letter to her girls…
Pictured above: Becky’s daughters Anna and Lily
To my two beautiful girls,
From the moment you came into my life you have been the centers of my universe. My love for you continues to grow as your individual personalities emerge.
Lily, I love your ambition.
When you were only 5 years old, I loved to hear you say:
“When I grow up I want to be a ballerina, a paleontologist, an astronaut and a mommy …”
I want you to know that you can be all of that and MORE. Now, a year later, fashion designer has been added to that list of goals and dreams. I am thrilled that you realize that there is more than one path that you can follow and your strength and determination will help you along the way.
And you certainly are determined — when you were only 2 years old, you had mastered the art of manipulation … there had been a few times when you had gotten sick and threw up in the car. Of course, I immediately pulled over after this happened.
Fast forward a few weeks.
We are driving in the car and you drop your toy. When I wouldn’t pull over to get the toy, you then said, “Mommy, I going to be sick, pull over!” Of course, I didn’t fall for it, but you knew what you were doing!
I will be there all the way to teach you right from wrong, to support you and cheer you on. I love you AND your tricky ways!
Anna, I know you are still young and your dreams may also change, but I love that at 3 years old you have such a strong devotion to all creatures and that you want to be an animal doctor like your mom. I dream of the day that we work together side by side!
Your temper tantrums are LOUD and LONG.
(They definitely can draw quite a few looks.)
Yet I’m glad you are asserting your strength and individuality and will happily sit with you while offering a hug and talk you through your concerns when you are ready, because I love you AND your tenacious ways!
Your sisterhood bond is unbreakable.
You play well together, expressing your ideas to one another through imagination. It always amazes me when Anna (as the younger sister) is there to comfort you (Lily) when you are sad. Lily, you are such a wonderful big sister and have taught your little sister how to be independent. You are patient with her and willing to compromise (most of the time).
Lately, we have had a family saying that “we are a team.”
Of course as parents we have to make rules, but your daddy and I also believe that it is important that you are able to participate in your life. We are here to educate you, to set guidelines, and to love you, support you and watch you grow!
I am looking forward to all of the adventures to come.
Love Always,
Your Mother
Leave a Comment: What are some of your own more memorable adventures in parenting? Please help me give a warm welcome to Becky by leaving her a comment and sharing her letter with others.
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you SO much for sharing your letter here Becky. I loved the part about your daughter’s request to “pull over to the side of the road.” It is funny when we really learn how much our kids have a mind of their own. For those first couple years we do so much for them - that I am always surprised when they utilize determination and “trickery” to push their bounderies! Every one of their “pushes” is a lesson though. Our children are such an adventure - it’s true
What a lovely letter Becky - you have a gift for seeing the positive attributes in our children- tricky,tenacious- that for a busy mom can sometimes be experienced otherwise. When my son was born, my daughter was only 18 months. She didn’t exactly welcome him with open arms at first. In tears, I expressed the sadness I felt about this to my pediatrician. She assured me that I had given my daughter the greatest gift of all - a sibling. Those words have proven very wise indeed. They are now 19 and 17 and have a very loving relationship.
Hi Lori,
Thanks! Everyday is certainly an adventure with them. I love seeing how close the girls are and I hope it stays that way! Siblings are the best!!
What a sweet and heartfelt letter! Reminds me a bit of my two boys who are three and five:) I have a journal where I write similar letters to them to help me remember what they were like at different ages-will be nice to look back and reflect when I’m old and gray! Many blessings to all of you moms!
Kim,
I have a running tab of all the funny things the girls say! There is always some new phrase or words of wisdom they come up with. Anna, our youngest likes to say “Hey, what’s the big idea!”
Isn’t it amazing, the wisdom we mothers gain through mothering! Thank you Becky for sharing your wise thoughts through this lovely letter to your girls.and thank you Kate and the NAMC for providing this platform..
I’m so glad that people are taking advantage of the opportunity to share there mothering wisdom and experience Lorri!
Becky, I love how you celebrate the traits that can be challenging today, yet serve them well later in life! I too have to be mindful that it is a child’s job to challenge parents/boundaries because that is how they learn.
Holly,
So true, they test their boundaries everyday and it certainly keeps me on my toes!