I know this is going to sound absolutely bizarre but when reality hit and I realized I am going to be a mother in less than two months I asked myself, “Are you ready for this?”

And then the part of my head consumed with infertility quickly replied, “Obviously you are. You’ve been trying to have a baby for almost two years now!”

Pregnancy allows mothers to prepare for the birth of their baby for approximately eight months. It wasn’t long and I realized if this baby was going to be born next week, I’d obviously take her in a heartbeat.

So then the hysteria of parenting and parenting well set in.

Once knowing she was on the way, I began thinking about parenting and it really freaked me out! While I have had ample experience with taking care of children and babies since I was a child myself, I have obviously never been completely responsible for the physical, emotional, spiritual and social well-being of a child God has blessed me (and my husband) to raise.

It is overwhelming to think about that responsibility. And then at the same time I am filled with complete and utter joy because I have literally lived my life looking forward to this very moment.

Dave and I made adjustments to our budget long ago because it has always been our intent for me to stay home with our children.

There is nothing I desire more than taking care of our household and our children on a daily basis.

I know there will be no greater reward than for me to know when my hair is graying that my life was spent shaping and molding the children God blessed me with to be men and women with a deep desire to love and serve the Lord with their lives.

No greater reward.

I know to get there is going to take sacrifice and a lot of something I’m probably not even aware of right now.

My mother was a stay at home mom until I was a senior in high school. We (my brother and I) definitely knew who was in charge … Mama! She didn’t have to tell us to do anything twice. We either did it or we knew what was coming. My mother demanded our respect and as a result there was always security in our home because we knew what was expected of us.

It was my Mama (and of course my Daddy) who taught me to be obedient. I can’t help but think because I learned the importance of obedience as a child that it made my obedience to the Lord as an adult “easier”. (Obedience is never easy, especially when you want so badly to do the opposite!)

I was listening to the radio yesterday and Dr. James Dobson (he has apparently written several books about raising children God’s way) was on. He said something that is very scary, but I believe, very true. He said that by the age of three, children know that they fit into one of two categories. He said the first category is a child who knows they are in charge (they know how to manipulate their parents) and the second category is a child who knows their parents are in charge and has utmost respect for them. Dr. Dobson said, unfortunately, many children today fall into the first category.

Fortunately, I do have time to read up on parenting God’s way before my little girl is in need of training! To anyone out there who has read a book on parenting God’s way and would recommend me to read it, please let me know!

I think maybe the thing I need to know now is that parenting is obviously not always roses and sunshine, and as with anything in life, there are ups and downs. I must trust that God will continue to guide me and equip me with what I need to raise the children He will bless me with.

- Elaine