When I Decided To Always Talk To My Children

You know parents really don't feel like they have to do much conversing with their children and I get that because they are children. Some things that burn in the hearts and minds of parents are too weighty for children so I get that too. Nevertheless, I also understand that communication is the true cornerstone of any relationship; even between you and your children!

Being that I was a  young mother in Japan, whenever her dad was out to sea, sometimes my child was all I had. So this is when I made a conscience decision to always talk to my children and to be completely honest......

One day Dwight (their dad) was out to sea and unlike most times when I would cope with his absence, this time his being away was really bothering me. I went to my friend's house because there, I could find solace and have company at the same time. She was doing something in another room and I went into the kitchen. I wanted to cry so bad because my heart was so heavy and in walks Raiyawna (yeah, whom I affectionately call Mooney). She looks me in my eyes and say, "Mommy, it's going to be alright. Daddy will be home soon and you will be alright. I love you Mommy and please don't be sad."

I almost choked on my tears. As they began to flow, she gently wiped my tears away and I promised her that day that I would try not to be sad and if I were, I would talk to her. She agreed at four that I could always talk to her when I'm sad like she can talk to me when she's sad. At that point I made a vow in my heart to always talk to my children. Whether it's a sad occasion, bad day, angry moment, or whatever, I would talk it out and to this day me and my children talk it out.

All three of them have a way of knowing when I'm not alright and I know them that much to detect when something is wrong. It's the art of really being in love with someone. We want to restrict being in love to marriages or relationships between two consenting adults but it's much deeper than that. Being in love with God is drastically most important because when you're in love with Him, you obey His Word, His Voice, & His Spirit. Then with your spouse it signifies being in a committed or having a soulful connection that's based on spiritual principles, respect, nurturing, and fleshly satisfaction. Last but never least being in love with your children is that ever present proclamation that they really belong to God and you have the responsibility of training them in His values, then it's loving them enough to chastise them while yet securing their strength by helping them overcome their fears, and lastly it's the active attributions that you express through the things you do, the way you hug, the respect you show them, and most importantly the connections you build between you and then. And last but not least, each relationship requires communication for how will I know you are in love with me if you never talk to me.....God longs for it, your spouse longs for it, and even your children!!

Happy Parenting and keep on talking........!!!!!!