She wanted a typewriter for Christmas. Not a doll, not Legos, not the newest and coolest whatever. A typewriter.
I questioned her choice.
I thought it would pass, but for months this seven year old girl of mine hoped for, a typewriter.
So I searched and searched. Small town office supplies stores were my first dead end.
“Boy, I haven’t had a typewriter in here since the 90’s, maybe the late 80’s even. You know, everyone uses computers anymore.” The store owner, who sounded old enough to be my grandpa, leveled with me.
“Yes, yes, that does seem to be the thing.” I replied, smiling to myself. And I shifted my focus to thrift stores.
Eight stores later, I found one. For $15 I had myself a clunky 1970’s typewriter in the best shade of pea green. It feels a bit strange to give your sweet 7 year old something that smells so old.
But here is the thing that I learned from a seven year old and a Christmas typewriter.
Parenting well, is honoring your child’s uniqueness. I could have passed on the typewriter. It’s wasn’t the simplest gift to find. It’s annoyingly heavy and often takes up real estate on my kitchen table right now as my little girl cannot easily put it away herself. It weighs nearly as much as she does.
Yet every single day she is pecking away on that thing.
The newness may still wear off. It may collect dust or be relegated to a closet after a few months. But in as much as I can, I want to be willing to take that risk. I want to help them explore and discover new things, different things, unique things. I want to give them room to see what they don’t like and what they do, what comes hard and what comes easy. And somewhere in the midst of that exploring and trying and experiencing they are going to begin to see a rhythm and pattern. They are going to be able to understand the things that are their very own, the things that God designed them for.
This girl of mine, she is unique. And so are my other three children. So are yours. They each have their bent and God-given gifts and abilities. I’ve learned unwrapping that, understanding that, is a whole lot easier with some kids than it is with others, but I think it is our responsibility to keep trying. It has become one of my greatest joys in being their mother.
My job is to pursue their individuality, creativity and help them realize what that might look like in our world. I can only imagine what it must feel like as a mama when your kids are grown – to know you took the time, to know you fostered that spark, to watch them fan that flame and carry that light into this great big world.
And so for my girl with the typewriter and my other three kids as well, this is my prayer.
God, help me to lead these little people well. This responsibility, it feels far too great at times. I feel unworthy, unfit to take these gifts you’ve given me in the form of small humans and help them flourish. My need for You has never been greater than in this role as their mom, but what better place for You to be glorified than in my weakness, all of my messy weakness.
I humbly give these kids to you. Give me the courage to quiet the world, the noise surrounding me. To drown out what everyone else is doing, to know my child is unique and to listen to You, God. I want to hear You. You have called them your masterpieces, God. Help me to hone that well, to discover that diligently, to shape that persistently, and to love that wildly. Help the law of kindness to be on my tongue so that this home strengthens them in their weakest places and becomes a secure place for them to fail and hurt.
Mostly, God, let me reflect You to them. Let them look at their mama and see You.
This job, it’s tiring and I’m too weak for the calling. But, You. You sustain me and equip me and my faith in you will not fail. Every day, every step, hold my hand and I promise to give this mama job all I have, bravely and for Your glory. Amen.
This post is linked up at Grace & Truth.
This touched my heart. Thanks for sharing your great perspective on this subject.
Blessings!
My pleasure, Briana. Thank you!
Love this!
💓
You are doing a great job! I still look back at my mistakes. Yelling at seven year old Jordan for wanting to wear a pair of ripped sweatpants to school that he tried to repair with about 50 pieces of scotch tape and staples. We were running late. I made him change and I tossed the sweatpants in the garbage. After school I found out it was “Be a Bum Day” at school. Why would a Christian school have children intentionally dress like the poor and marginalized in society? Really? I digress. Anyway, the nice thing is he doesn’t remember. I know this because my daughter in law told me it did not come up during their recent “How were you parented?” portion of pre-marital counseling. Instead, he remembers our conversations. He remembers how I used everything as a teaching moment. He remembers our adventures. He remembers the bedtime Bible stories. He remembers the love. (And he remembers a fight we had in high school..)
Love Jesus. Be yourself. Be intentional. Say yes to typewriters❤️
I think it’s a gift of grace that they don’t remember everything, isn’t it? And alway, yes to typewriters. <3
whatever you do, DO NOT stifle their creativity – or their gifts from God!
I’ll admit, Andrea, sometimes my need for less mess puts up a good fight against their “creativity” but I keep trying. 😉
Amen! Mama, you rock! This story blessed my heart so much. I love your dedication to your sweet girl. I imagine years from now you will look back on this Christmas as the one that started it all. 10 best sellers later you can say, “Praise God I found that typewriter!” Love this!
You make me smile, Rhiannon. 10 best sellers later – I never even thought of that! Praise God for typewriters.
Amen! Mama, you rock! This story blessed my heart so much. I love your dedication to your sweet girl. I imagine years from now you will look back on this Christmas as the one that started it all. 10 best sellers later you can say, “Praise God I found that typewriter!” Love this!
That’s so adorable that she wanted a typewriter!! And I totally agree, but it can be so hard. It’s hard to remember that when you think they “should” be something.
So true, Karin. So much of this parenting is hard, but thankfully there is a ton of grace there as well!
Katie, what an amazing post! Your heart to embrace your children’s uniqueness is so important in a world that calls them to be like everyone else to “fit in”. I’m so glad that I stopped by from the Grace and Truth Linkup. Have a great weekend!
I, too, am way too weak for this calling! I am so glad that JESUS is my strength – because oh my goodness I couldn’t do this mama thing without HIM! Thanks for writing your heart!
Katie, this is such a great post on remembering that our children are loaned out to us by God and that it is our responsibility to look for and pray for those unique gifts He has given them. And like you wrote . . . to foster that spark, to fan the flame!
I love this and the heart of understanding behind it! Great reminder for me as I raise our 3 boys!