The First Five

I don’t know why I just couldn’t shake the feeling of “Do it now, you will appreciate later” the first five years of my daughter's life, but the feeling did not leave. What I did when she was little will affect her entire life.

Never mind the “You are doing way too much” or “Your child shouldn’t come before marriage” or “She not going to remember what you are doing” talk and critique that shot my way in every direction possible. Not only life was a blur, I was fighting Gods voice from the voices of the world.

How was I really to raise my child?

Granted, other parts of my life were important too.

My marriage was important - I got pregnant two weeks after I got married. We didn’t have a marriage life before the baby, but I tried the best I could, but didn’t have a real “chance” at being married. I didn’t have a chance to be married. All the changes happening in my body and life. Husband was on the road all the time. Tried to have trips and date nights in between the chaos of having a newborn.

My well being was important - I reiterate - I got pregnant two weeks after I got married. Oh how fun to go through pregnancy, have a child, and go through two years of postpartum. To be honest, I didn’t start to feel like myself until she was three or four. Self love and care was non-existent. Within 2 years of my marriage starting, it was ending in divorce. Another layer of trauma to deal with on top of the postpartum.

I didn’t know what type of mom I would be until I pushed her out at 12:54 am that icy January day. From then, I was tasked with responsibility to raise a tiny human that would eventually go into the world to be a light carrier. But reading and to my belly (when it felt funny to do so), playing gentle classical music at night and around the house, reading to her early, talking about the Lord (plus more) I felt were some things the Holy Spirit guided me to instill in her early.

The Word of God proclaims in Proverbs 22:6 Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

I understand this as parents, we start them off, so they will always remember and return back to it - our wisdom, our love, our guidance and reverence for the Lord.

According to All4Kids.org “One of the most critical stages of development and learning is from birth to five years old. The first five years of child development are crucial to their health, well-being, and the overall trajectory of their lives in various ways.” And according to Psychology Today “But decades of research in developmental psychology, pediatrics, and neuroscience have converged on the conclusion that the first five years are especially critical.”

Knowing this, I want to encourage you - keep introducing those principles at 2, keep reading God’s Word and scripture over them at 4 and keep doing all the things the Lord is prompting you to do for your babies. The first five Years matter. As you are guided by Him, He also guides all the areas of your life that need your attention. A bonus - He graces your life where all components and aspects won’t compete for your attention all at once. I know God - and He provides ease for the different areas of your life. One season may pull on you tougher than the next, but keep trusting Him to smooth everything in your hands.