tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869501184533957798.post4548132988440595119..comments2023-10-25T07:26:28.960-04:00Comments on Breathe..Shine....Love: If You Really Knew Me...breatheshinelovehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04688454414455417139noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869501184533957798.post-84688603774752858142011-04-08T23:56:33.978-04:002011-04-08T23:56:33.978-04:00I remember being worried about the smallness of my...I remember being worried about the smallness of my baby, and then the tumbles of my toddler, and then the influence of friendships made fast amoung preschoolers, and then I worried about them being gone from me for whole days in school with their little hearts vulnerable, and now we are reaching the edge of teens and oh how scared I am about the bigness of the worries that will follow us now and the lack of control that we will have over it. I am a little behind you but oh how I already know what you are talking about.a li'l bit squishyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10552498869881201504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869501184533957798.post-26900896311470135692011-04-08T12:14:00.138-04:002011-04-08T12:14:00.138-04:00Took a different challenge (the poem) but wrote ab...Took a different challenge (the poem) but wrote about the same stage in life. This was beautifully written! It sometimes takes my breath away that, after 27 years of marriage, and with 2 grown kids, I look across the living room at night, and HE'S still the one! Love the gratitude that you express for the KING! And share all the sentiments... Visiting from Mama Kats ~ AdrienneAdriennehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12067468928499906171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869501184533957798.post-61524273847767744662011-04-08T04:18:53.803-04:002011-04-08T04:18:53.803-04:00What a lovely way of writing your story! I'm s...What a lovely way of writing your story! I'm sorry that you are struggling with these emotions, and oh, how children can.not.understand. how hard it is for mothers to let go.<br /><br />But you will NEVER stop being their mother. While you might not always be in the driver seat of their car, it sounds like you have such the relationship with them that you will always be in their ear. Whether they show it or not, they most likely will always consider your voice, somewhere underneath.<br /><br />And the more you let go, the more they might just stun and amaze you, and make you proud. The lighter you keep the rein, the more likely they will come to you of their own volition, even if it has to be over the phone. But sometimes I think one of the most beautiful parts of a mother-child relationship is when a child gets mature enough the mother can "mother" a little bit less and "befriend" a little bit more. Sometimes that can create a very beautiful dynamic of it's own.<br /><br />Best of luck to you.Jade @ Tasting Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06079792384434022728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869501184533957798.post-59356605352384703412011-04-07T23:28:19.189-04:002011-04-07T23:28:19.189-04:00Oh Kristi...I fear I will be writing similar words...Oh Kristi...I fear I will be writing similar words in 10 years...unless that machine I am working on that keeps them small works :-)<br /><br />Oh that letting go, and knowing that my husband and I didn't make good decisions in our youth yet having faith that we will raise good kids who will make better ones...oh so hard.Melissa Haakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06692372175623299858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869501184533957798.post-59434511573819157062011-04-07T22:00:44.856-04:002011-04-07T22:00:44.856-04:00I love your honesty here, Kristi. My imaginations...I love your honesty here, Kristi. My imaginations of my children as teens are often highly caricatured: I see them either as glowing, grown perfect beings or angry housemates who chase all those D's and make their mother cry. Reading through your thoughts as you grow <i>with</i> them reminds me that those children of mine are <i>people</i>. I get to watch their journey and participate, but I don't get to control it.Lenaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14128174350293301827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869501184533957798.post-5388428568156332002011-04-07T21:57:58.455-04:002011-04-07T21:57:58.455-04:00It's so hard for me to believe my little girl ...It's so hard for me to believe my little girl is six years old...I can't imagine what she'll be like in ten years! I just hope that I am as good as a mother to my children that my mother was to hers.Ginny Mariehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14579981666900022792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869501184533957798.post-50857495263294935212011-04-07T18:09:55.656-04:002011-04-07T18:09:55.656-04:00I would like to send you a hug today. I think you ...I would like to send you a hug today. I think you need it. I felt it coming on the other day when you left me that beautiful comment about thinking back when my baby was younger. Hardly a baby :) anyhow I understand how you feel. I think for me it got harder when Josh went away to college but I kept telling myself that he has to live his life and follow his dreams. This is beautiful, you opened your heart and shared with us.xxxxayalahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13243362803799877014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869501184533957798.post-70562169934757277332011-04-07T17:32:58.990-04:002011-04-07T17:32:58.990-04:00Kristi, thank you SO much for linking this to BPMs...Kristi, thank you SO much for linking this to BPMs today. Your words are so heartfelt, so honest, so resounding. I'm not there yet. I'm far from it. I'm in the daily duty of "wiping anything that moves" as you said. But I see it looming ahead with every small step of independence my 3.5 year old makes. It blows my mind. <br />Thank you for this peak inside your heart; I feel really blessed to have read this today.Hyacynthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08838590548747956315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869501184533957798.post-16760527822641851602011-04-07T14:49:09.242-04:002011-04-07T14:49:09.242-04:00I'm trying to stay calm about all this, but......I'm trying to stay calm about all this, but...I'm SO attached to my kids right now that the prospect of being left out of their lives or wondering what's behind their eyes...it terrifies me. I know my post today said things about being beautiful and strong, calm and present as the foundation for their growth. I know I said that. But the truth is, I merely *hope* that. I hope I can be serene and graceful and encouraging of their independence. It's so hard...<br /><br />But your last paragraphs about hope and hugs and snuggles....it will be okay. It will. <br /><br />This is a lovely post, and I'm so grateful that you shared it. I feel like it's preparing me for the future -- and I'm a strong proponent of facing the truth in order to embrace it. Thank you :)This Heavenly Lifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14586469381231517883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869501184533957798.post-55487849796250766842011-04-07T13:51:37.796-04:002011-04-07T13:51:37.796-04:00I am starting to go through the exact same thing. ...I am starting to go through the exact same thing. My kids are 12 & 14 and they are growing up so fast. We have not hit all the "D's" yet, thank goodness, but they still scare me.Michellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01823862479614209543noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869501184533957798.post-45986402187739953902011-04-07T13:48:32.184-04:002011-04-07T13:48:32.184-04:00I don't think you rambled at all--your post wa...I don't think you rambled at all--your post was perfect. I've had three children in three years, and the one thing I HATE to hear is when people tell me to enjoy this time--because honestly, it's not always enjoyable. Three little kids who don't nap and get into everything--yikes!<br /><br />I think it's comforting to know that we all struggle--sometimes differently, sometimes the same--but the challenge for all is to enjoy the glimpses, no matter the stage in which they come.Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02248429249559032560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869501184533957798.post-9666004603034383772011-04-07T13:25:36.545-04:002011-04-07T13:25:36.545-04:00This made me get all teary. I'm in the little ...This made me get all teary. I'm in the little kid phase still (and there are days I do not like one child or the other, depending on their attitude!) and I am dreading the teenage years, the letting go years. <br /><br />I am enjoying them now with the thought in the back of my mind just how precious these days are.Cherylhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14025221975648580117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869501184533957798.post-2453506969010383202011-04-07T13:17:00.052-04:002011-04-07T13:17:00.052-04:00I HATE it... while it's amazing to watch them ...I HATE it... while it's amazing to watch them succeed and the feeling of them calling ME when they need to talk is amazing- (my son just moved to Germany, with the army and my daughters are 20 and 12) i hate it. I want them home, with me... and i know those moments are fewer and fewer. (and darn it if i didn't get enough of them to begin with!!!) but i smile. I don't let them know i hate it...Mistyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09505420894898738638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869501184533957798.post-48801368433759460402011-04-07T13:11:43.694-04:002011-04-07T13:11:43.694-04:00I'm both looking forward to, and absolutely dr...I'm both looking forward to, and absolutely dreading, those days.thepsychobabblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06160059940623065616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869501184533957798.post-40401045781782412702011-04-07T11:48:22.472-04:002011-04-07T11:48:22.472-04:00Thanks for sharing this post. I think about the s...Thanks for sharing this post. I think about the same things with my boys. Mine is 6 and he is with me every other week, while my former stepson is 12 and with me on the same weekend I have my boy. Every other week and weekend I watch them walk away and although I've been doing it for 2 years now, it's still the hardest thing to let go and watch them live half their lives (or more) without me. All you can do is cherish the time you get and make great memories.BloggyDaddyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03530559870921270953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869501184533957798.post-37514858813839078852011-04-07T10:49:47.303-04:002011-04-07T10:49:47.303-04:00This is my biggest fear! I know that I'm goin...This is my biggest fear! I know that I'm going to have a horrible time when my son gets older. I'm already freaking out about leaving him for the first time and it will only be for 3 days. I guess you just confirmed my fears that it never gets easier.Barbarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13311088408907148236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869501184533957798.post-25121123663513774422011-04-07T10:39:45.975-04:002011-04-07T10:39:45.975-04:00This made me cry!! I think the one thing that help...This made me cry!! I think the one thing that helps me get through the trying, toddler times right now is knowing I will miss the young days when they are older, and your piece completely validates that....so beautifully. Oh my. So beautiful. <br /><br />Oh, and there are plenty of days I don't like my kids either. :) I try and remind myself of the things I did as a teenager and how my parents probably weren't the most thrilled, but I turned out alright. You did a great job mothering, and they will turn out beautiful people. :)<br /><br />Thanks for this bigger picture moment. It has helped me right now as I feel exhausted, and I will pray for you to get through this time in your life in a joyful way.Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02930533303856458374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869501184533957798.post-25108079966739125202011-04-07T10:19:49.573-04:002011-04-07T10:19:49.573-04:00"In my kingdom of old, I forgot to mention th..."In my kingdom of old, I forgot to mention the king. That isn't because the king isn't important...because he certainly is! It's just in those early days he was off slaying dragons... or something like that... while I was home keeping the fires burning."<br /><br />You just described my life (the younger years) to A T. And I'm scared of the teenage D years. And you know what... it is 100% okay to be afraid of relinquishing that throne. I can't even imagine. So I will only support. ((hugs))Alitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09470698206904719203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869501184533957798.post-27829482474424508662011-04-07T10:18:30.116-04:002011-04-07T10:18:30.116-04:00You went and made me cry! My kids are still so you...You went and made me cry! My kids are still so young, but reading this sends my thinking ahead to those years when I too will have to learn to let go. The time is already flying by, and knowing that someday I will not longer be able to "pull up the drawbridge" and keep them safe here with me is scary and saddening. Thanks for sharing your feelings. Its just proof that being a mom never gets any easier, it's always challenging and changing. And, reason to cherish these days as high queen even more than I already do. :)Colleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14376968088373513605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869501184533957798.post-35755606111076802672011-04-07T09:15:39.499-04:002011-04-07T09:15:39.499-04:00kristi, thank you for this! mine are still so you...kristi, thank you for this! mine are still so young and i treasure reading about moms who are going through older children feelings--it makes me aware of what is to come. and also, if only a little bit, prepares me--both my heart and my mind--for that.katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01796146545250391834noreply@blogger.com