Overwhelmed

Overwhelmed has many different meanings. It can be the feeling a new mother has as she deals with that new baby. It can be a person who doesn't know the meaning of the word "no" and gets themselves involved in 20 different projects. It can be the person facing a major event or undertaking, perhaps a widow who has never done the bill paying in her household. I am feeling overwhelmed, but not for any of the above scenarios. Mine is different. It is my children and the maturity I see in them each day.

Suzanna has a major project due very soon at school. Despite the nasty weather and no school last week, she continued, without being nagged by mom, to work on it and it will be completed well ahead of the due date. It is Kathryn, with her tenacity in practicing piano. She is faithful to sit and practice at least a half hour nearly every night. The improvement in her ability is obvious. Finally, and the one who really overwhelmed me last evening, is Thomas. Hubby has been putting in some long hours over the past few weeks. Last night I told Thomas he would be working late and that Thomas would need to take care of the chores. Without rolling his eyes, mumbling under his breath or putting it off, he immediately went to the phone, called his dad, and got instructions on what needed to be done. Wow, I was stunned. To see him take the initiative and take care of what his dad asked of him, left me very overwhelmed.

It is amazing to see our kids grow up and mature before our eyes. And to see something you are trying to teach them, responsibility, being put in action by all three kids leaves me proud and willing to continue mothering and teaching them as they continue to grow.