Parents are taught in God’s Word that if they “train up a child in the way they should go, that they will not depart from it.” In this day and age, our children are pulled in so many directions. The technology available to our children in 2012, with its advantages and/or disadvantages, affords our children with a knowledge of computers and social networking that I could never have imagined when I was growing up as a teenager in the 1960’s. Communication with our children after school can be done with a touch of a button on our cell phones and tracking them via texts and emails becomes a necessity.

When I got pregnant with my daughter over 24 years ago, there were no cell phones. Since I was an older mother (first time pregnancy at age 39), I elected to stay at home with my daughter until she was almost 3 years old. I returned to work only on a part-time basis until we moved back to our home state when she was 5. I became involved with the PTO for six years and continued working part time, always making sure I was finished in time to pick her up after school.

I understand that many mothers have to work to provide for their families and I do not discount that. Being a mother, I know how important it is to provide for the needs of our children. However, my choice to work part-time had more to do with my desire to make memories that were an important part of my daughter’s life. Many times we had her friends come home with us after school, and they appreciated the opportunity to play and laugh at our home as many of the mothers worked full time.

Making memories should be an integral part of raising our children, and they don’t always require a great deal of money. My daughter has often told me that she loved the fact that I could be at home with her and her friends after school—that I was always there! Watching her blossom into a wonderful young woman, being there to listen to her concerns about dating the “right person”, sharing her joy when she became engaged and then married after graduating from college have been a blessing in more ways than she will ever realize.

Last week, we went to a Tea House for no special reason but to enjoy each other and good conversation over a “pot”of tea and lunch. As we talked, laughed, and listened to one another, I was reminded that she will never depart from the teaching she received as a young child and the faith lessons she has already learned as a young woman. Today we enjoyed lunch together with her dad. We are still making memories no matter how small or big and that is all that matters as a family.

Go out and make memories with your loved ones today. Until next time, God bless.