No handbook needed: Moms set examples

Role models provide foundation for parenting journey

Parenting is not for the faint of heart. It would be so much easier if kids came with child-specific handbooks, but alas, that is not the case. Instead, we learn from example, by watching others, and with more than a little trial by fire.

There is an incredible courage and bravery that parents must possess, reservoirs of trust and hope that go into parenting and motherhood each and every day.

I regularly find myself hitting the pause button, and thinking back to my family and friends, sorting through the wisdom of generations of other moms to help me on this path of raising a small human into adulthood. And when in doubt, I pick up the phone.

I’ve learned so much from the strong role models in my life: the moms, the mother-inlaws, the sisters, the cousins, the aunts, the grandmothers … all play a role in helping me navigate this crazy parenthood thing.

Ultimately, I’ve learned that parenting a child requires one to know when to step back and when to step forward, to always love, to be patient, to be truthful and most of all, to be present.

It also means setting an example, showing our children what to do through our actions, and helping them to learn from our mistakes.

There’s no handbook that comes with delivery. And for that, I’m thankful. The conversations I’ve had with other parents — frank, honest, heartwarming (and sometimes, heart-breaking) — are the best education possible.

I remember as a new mom calling my mother in a panic, terrified that I was doing something wrong. And now, my sister (the mother of two toddlers) often does the same thing, texting both my mom and me with random questions, finding support on this journey.

Moms fill a role in their own homes, but their reach often extends far outside their own houses. Moms nurture others, both inside their families and out, providing a foundation for others to grow.

Thank you to those who have filled that role — and Happy Mother’s Day!

Unsigned editorials represent the viewpoint of this newspaper rather than an individual. Columns and letters to the editor represent the viewpoints of the persons writing them and do not necessarily represent the views of the Yuma Sun.