It all seems so precious and perfect. A couple marries, they have a child, then another and maybe more. What could be better? Well, I am certainly not an expert on parenting, even though I did birth three babies that turned into amazing adults. I wonder how I’d feel about getting the news that I was pregnant at my age today? I mean, look at Sarah, the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac from the Old Testament. Put yourself in Sarah’s sandals for a moment. You’ve wanted children since you were old enough to conceive. Years went by and it never happened. Your friends all had children and you were overlooked. Your husband had been promised by God that he would be the father of all nations and from his bloodline, the Messiah would come. He had to be thinking, “God, I can’t even tend the sheep anymore. How can I raise a family?”

This sort of thing doesn’t happen today. Although if I was approached by three angels who told me I was going to have a child at 90, I’m quite sure I’d believe them, or at least try to believe them. Then to go through nine months of a pregnancy at that age and the trauma of going through labor and delivery of that child. Well, this week I’m going to talk about parenting for those of you who are considering having a child. These posts are not intended to discourage you. If anything, I hope you decide to have a family. The stories I have to tell are countless and pretty funny to boot. The truth is, there is nothing like it.

Someone once said, it’s the easiest thing in the world to have an opinion on parenting and the most difficult thing to actually do.  Grandparents think they’re experts, because they’ve raised a few.  Friends without children know everything there is about raising a child, because they’ve read all about it on the internet.  Friends with children will tell you it’s a piece of cake, because misery often loves company. Actually, there is no right or wrong way to be a parent.  It’s kind of a “learn as you go process.”

I belong to the old way of thinking, regarding marriage and family and I know I’m not alone in my thinking.  I believe that marriage should be between one man and one woman, as clearly stated by Almighty God.  I also believe that the family unit has disintegrated over the years.  I’m not sure how this happened other than the possibility that folks just don’t work hard at marriage anymore. 

OK, I’m old fashioned.  That’s because I’m old and I have a right to be.

When another human being enters the equation, we soon discover their needs come before our own. There will be sleepless nights, bumps and bruises, calls from the principal’s office, fending off bullies, helping with homework and a whole plethora of duties.

The next few days will be devoted to the art of parenting from someone who has lived through it.