mama bear

As parents, we want what's best for our kids. Most of us would do anything in our power to give our kids a great life. It cuts us to our core when we see our kids hurt or struggling with something, and we would love to be able to make everything work out perfectly in their lives. We love to see them smile and would be willing to go to war if something makes them cry--and these things seem even more true for moms.

The thing is, our kids don't need us to constantly fight their battles.

As moms, our job is to raise these little people who have been entrusted to us and teach them to be capable, productive adults who chase after God. Perhaps the largest part of that is teaching them how to deal with when things in life don't go the way they want. I don't know about you, but I think it's safe to say that in my life, I can point to a lot more times when things went wrong than when they went exactly how I wanted or planned for them to. It would be illogical for me to think that life will be different for my kids in the future. When they go out into the world, they are going to be facing hard things. And out there? I won't be there to keep people from saying mean things or from treating them in a way I don't like.

It seems more and more moms are proudly adopting the "mama bear" persona: ready to rush in at the first glimpse of any perceived threat, loud and growling and ready to fight. They wear it as a badge of honor:

 

In our society today, it's almost like people think that loudly defending our kids is what defines a good mom, and that we are somehow failing our kids if that's not what we do.

What if the opposite is true? What if always rushing to our child's defense, roaring onto the scene with our fur standing on end and teeth bared isn't what's best for our kids?

That's not to say that we should never defend our kids. If there's a true threat to any one of my kids, you can bet I'll step in. But when the teacher gives my kids a zero because they didn't turn in an assignment? That's on my kid. If my kid failed a test because they didn't think there was a need to study? Again, you won't see me rushing to the school.

Choices have consequences. As important as I believe education to be, a bad grade isn't the end of the world (don't tell my kids I said that!). The bigger deal, though? I want my kids to learn responsibility while they are young and living under my roof. When one of our kids earns a C on a report card, they lose all screen privileges until that grade has been improved and proof comes in the form of the next grade report... meaning the 5-week progress report. Definitely not a fun thing, but what happens if my kids don't take responsibility for their actions in the future? If they don't live up to expectations at work, they lose a lot more than screen privileges. If they don't step up and meet requirements as a parent, the consequences are life shattering.

But what if it's something my kid isn't responsible for? What if, for example, they are left out and not invited to something when everybody else is? Guess what? Even then, we moms need to take a step back. As much as we love our kids and see all their wonderful qualities, not everybody in this world is going to like them. And as hard as that lesson is to learn, I would much rather they learn it while they are at home, loved.

Kids are resilient, and they are a lot more capable than we, as moms, often give them credit for. Our job is to love our kids, but love doesn't mean just making things easy for them. Sometimes love means taking a step back and letting our kids learn hard lessons. It means letting them deal with the consequences of a uniform left at home, or an assignment not turned it. It means being the "bad guy" who takes away their devices when they don't demonstrate responsibility. It means teaching them that this world isn't always going to be nice--but that they are strong enough to deal with it.

So mom, don't always rush to the rescue. Don't give your kids the impression that the world revolves around them. Instead, raise them up to be strong. Teach them they can do hard things. Show them that you believe they are capable by letting them make decisions, mess up, and fix their own mistakes. Teach them to be self-reliant. Give them the confidence to stand on their own two feet, even when there are things trying to push them down.

Love them--by being willing to let go and let them grow.