Written by Kimberly
Most times I feel that raising my family is the most difficult thing in the world. It consumes me. It’s all uphill. I constantly question if I am doing ‘it’ right. I’ve always felt that I needed to fully apply myself in the art of raising a family.
Art is most often a difficult process, it can be messy, it can make you frustrated and the end result has varied opinions in the eyes of the beholder. But if the artist is pleased with their creation, then that is all that matters.
If you ask me if I am pleased with my creation, my family, I will tell you that it’s a little messy right now but I’m not finished yet. If you ask me when I’ll be finished, I will tell you that I have no idea. If you ask me if I had some pleasure along the way, I will tell you this:
When I look back on the years leading up to now, I see smiles, laughter, adventures and love. I see the struggles but I see love. I see that each one of us have had failures and successes and we have pulled together for comfort or celebration. I see that my children have raised me up as much as I have raised them. I see that the art of raising a family is painted with irregular strokes of the brush, written with typos, sculpted with inconsistencies, photographed with a unique angle of view but crafted with love.
At the end of the day I may feel like a tormented artist resisting sleep because there is still work to do. But I am certain that my work will not be finished until my whole family can look back with me and see the beauty of our masterpiece, with love.
“Family life is full of major and minor crises – the ups and downs of health, success and failure in career, marriage, and divorce – and all kinds of characters. It is tied to places and events and histories. With all of these felt details, life etches itself into memory and personality. It’s difficult to imagine anything more nourishing to the soul.” ~ Thomas Moore
Be sure to visit Kimberly’s blog!
Tags: children, family life, Motherhood, parenthood, Raising a family, teenagers
This is such a beautiful piece and so true. I definitely agree that my children have raised me as much as I have raised them and I have learned so much from them.
I believe the ” Family Masterpiece” is never done. If you asked my parents who are in their 80s, they would probably say our family is still a work in progress and their work is not done.
Thanks Pam…and I agree. The family masterpiece that we set out to create is usually not how it unfolds…always being something that we continually work at.
It’s difficult to imagine anything more nourishing to the soul.
I don’t think there is anything more nourishing to the soul than love. Love expressed in self-giving to family and friends is a reflection of the purest Love there is: the Love of the Divine for His children. Thank for the reminder Kimberly.
Art is most often a difficult process, it can be messy, it can make you frustrated and the end result has varied opinions in the eyes of the beholder.
So true – not only of art, but of family and just the process of living.
Thanks for the timely reminder that it is not about creating something “perfect”, but the journey together and the bonds we form.
My Son is going to be 24 next month and I have been married for 27 years and like Pam said: “my family is still a work in progress”. I would say the things that I have learned along the way that have helped me are: don’t compare your family to others, don’t try to change who your children are, and there is no such thing as “perfect”! I realize that what makes me feel supported and loved is that “I know who we are as a family and that we are there for each other, no matter what. If being together means watching Football on Sunday and eating pizza than that is fine with me. As long as we are together and we are communicating that’s all I need. I think the true key is acceptance.
At the end of the day I may feel like a tormented artist resisting sleep because there is still work to do
I loved it.
I love the different lines that jumped out everyone. This is what grabbed me as soon I read it. I felt this as a married mother, I feel it more as single mother. It’s a routine and all. But, somewhere in my mind, I always know that it’s up to “me” and only “me”.
Holly, I enjoyed your post and ita. Your family sounds wonderful.
Thanks Kimberly, that was such a nice read.
I see that the art of raising a family is painted with irregular strokes of the brush, written with typos, sculpted with inconsistencies, photographed with a unique angle of view but crafted with love.
LOVE this line! Kimberly — thank you for such a wonderful piece! Can’t wait to check out your blog!
Amen! Thank you for sharing, I just nodded at the end, it’s comforting to know others feel the same way. Thanks again Kimberly!