I was in a discussion with one of my friends the other day about being a mother. I think its funny that now that I am one, commandment #5 takes on a whole new meaning. Thou shall honor thy father and mother. Its not, you should try, or maybe, or only if you like them. It simply states to DO this.

 I wonder how many times I took my parents for granted, or how many times I cursed them in my head because they were making me do a household chore. I can remember my mother asking me to help by folding 2 baskets of laundry. It literally took me two hours to complete this project. It currently takes me all of five minutes to do this chore all while entertaining a one year old and keeping the dog out of the clean clothes. I even went so far as to write myself a journal of all the things that I should NOT do when I was a mother. Such as, let your kids go out with their friends more often, and never ever ground your child. I look back on these words of wisdom from my younger self and it is really interesting. I really did envy those friends of mine who were friends with their mother. I thought it would be so cool to have a mom who could hang out with my friends, and be looked upon as the "cool" mom. I vowed that I was going to be the cool mom someday. 

But now that I am a mother, I realize that my purpose in being a mother is not to be cool, or popular. I'm not supposed to be my child's friend at this point in her life. I am simply supposed to be her mother. I will probably follow my parents rules about curfew, and going out, dating and discipline. Why would I ever do that!!! my younger self would scream.... Because it worked!

I didn't really get into trouble and I did learn the value of hard work. And even though, my younger self hated every minute of it. My older self is thanking God for giving my parents the wisdom to be my parents and not my friends.