Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day! I have asked two important mothers in my life to answer some questions about their early days of mothering. First up, my Mom, Jan (aka, Jenius):

1. How many children did you want to have when you were little? I always wanted six children, just like my mother had.

2. When you kept having girls, did any part of you ever want a little boy? Every mom wants to have a little boy for her husband, but God always knows best. I can truly say that with each little girl we had, we were completely overjoyed and satisfied.

3. Why did you decide to name all of us with a "D" name? That was my idea. I wanted Daddy to have his children with all D names.....kind of a tribute to him.

4. Was Daddy in the room with you when you had all of us? What was his reaction when we were all born? Back when all you girls were born, the fathers weren't allowed in the delivery rooms. He had to wait out in another room until the doctor or nurse came out and delivered the good news. Of course, his reaction was ALWAYS one of pride and joy.

5. Who's labor was the hardest? Easiest? My labor with Dayna was definitely the hardest, and then yours, Donna, was the easiest. By the fifth birth, I was a pro, and you just kind of came out quite easily.

6. Who was the easiest baby? Most challenging? Dawn was probably the easiest baby. She was good from the very beginning, very little crying, and sleeping well. Denise cried a lot, and had a real problem with throwing up all the time. She would literally spew all over. I must say, though, that I enjoyed all of you as babies.

7. If you could have done anything different when raising us as toddlers, what would it have been? I would have been more patient with all of you, and spent more time one on one with each of you. It's really too bad that the important things about raising children sometimes aren't learned until we're older and the children are grown and gone. I have many regrets and would do so many things differently, but I think it all would start with patience.

9. If you could have done anything different raising us as teens, what would it have been? I can't really think of what I would have done differently. I guess maybe making sure that I treated you all with the same fairness, although, I did try to do that. The baby usually always gets away with far more than the older children do, so I guess I would try to watch that a little better. (My note: sorry Mom, but I have to disagree. What did I get away with???)

10. What is your proudest accomplishment as a mom? My proudest accomplishment is just to know that all you girls have grown up to know and love the Lord, and to live for him. That's what it's all about. III John 4.

11. Did you ever feel like you did all the work in parenting and Daddy was there just to enjoy the fun times with us? I suppose I felt like that sometimes, although Daddy was a big influence on your lives. I was the one who you all took advantage of, and when Daddy came home, you towed the line. I guess it's like that with moms. The dads get the respect and the moms are the rugs.

12. Did Daddy help out a lot with us? (Like baths, diapers, bedtime....) No!!! Very seldom, anyway.

13. What was the easiest stage in raising your girls? The easiest stage is right now. I enjoy all of you so much, and although I still worry about each of you, the relationship is different, and wonderful. I thank God for each of you every day.

I originally had a set of questions for my mother-in-law, Jane, to answer, but it was a very busy weekend for her of traveling and going to a graduation ceremony and we kept playing phone-tag, so I didn't get her answers. Believe me, though...this lady is full of funny stories and good advice:)

Happy Mother's Day to my Mom, Jane, my sisters and all of my Mommy friends! You are all so special to me and I love you all very much. It is so nice to have girls to talk to, get advice from and vent and laugh with on a daily basis. We are all blessed! Enjoy your day:)