I want to be a happy mum. A spontaneous mum. A gentle mum. An encouraging mum. A loving mum.  I want to open the door for my children.

It’s all too easy for me to say ‘no’. No, no, no! I don’t want my children to remember me as a ‘no mum’. “No” closes doors whereas “yes” opens the door, giving loads of opportunity! Opening the door is like igniting a flame… we never know where it will lead or brightly it will burn. I desire to create an environment that is conducive to pursuing delights, to shape and develop the character traits necessary for a lifelong habit of learning and provide the fuel or rich ideas to stimulate an interest.

Education is not the filling of a pail, rather the lighting of a fire.
~William Butler Yeats

I try to open doors for my children in the following ways:

  • Exposing my children to various subjects and exploring them together. The topic may not be an interest of mine, but I never know what might catch their interest. The library, wildlife parks, sport games, the theatre, musicals, art gallery, arts & craft activities, games (chess, etc.) movies and vacations are a few ways to provide a rich, interesting environment.
  • Teach perseverance. Some children tend to naturally be ‘dabblers’. That is they like to try their hand at everything but don’t stick with a topic or an activity long enough to master it or gain a decent understanding of it. Whilst I understand that this is a personality trait and it’s not all bad I do think it is important to learn stickability.
  • Give encouragement and support when their interest begins to wane. All of us experience frustration, tiredness or weariness and so do my children. This is a sign that I need to become a little more involved and help them regain their enthusiasm.
  • As much as I like to teach perseverance, there is also merit in learning to let go in order to move on. As children get older and their focus can begin to narrow in on selected activities or topics, it is helpful to reassess the necessity of their other activities. Sometimes an activity or subject will need to be let go so that the child can fully move forward in pursuit of their interests.
  • I constantly nag er, gently remind my children that their interests may very well be given to them by God and are to be used for His glory and for His purpose.

He is the God who made the world and everything in it.
Acts 17:24a

I want to ignite a fire in the hearts and lives of my children. The interest they have today could be their occupation, their area of expertise, their hobby, their lifelong passion or a ministry in the years to come!

Will you share how you open doors for your children.