Have you ever looked at your children and thought “she’s just like I was at her age?” Adversely, have you looked at your children in anger and said “you’re just like your useless father!” Either way, our children learn from us before they venture out into the world around them. They are a reflection upon us and we should be conscious about how we live.

Being a former teen mother, I know the perils of sacrificing your young life for someone else. Before I was old enough to drive, vote or drink, I was instantly hurled into the arena of parenthood.

Many parents, at one time or another, have been guilty of making decisions that were somewhat selfish. Parenthood is a monumental responsibility, and what we decide can sometimes be reflective of our frustration. Ultimately, these people who depend upon us will reap the result, be it positive or negative.

My three children are so different, I wonder sometimes what the heck I did right and wrong. We just celebrated my daughter’s 25th birthday yesterday evening. It’s such a victory for our family to see her happy, since suffering from Lupus and renal challenges since she was 17. She’s a warrior who loves God, people and is destined to be a great mentor and powerful speaker. My mother was on kidney dialysis, just the same, until her death from renal failure in 1991. My son is a thriving, talented young man, with a promising future on the horizon. My 14 year-old…well, that’s another article altogether. She’s an awesome kid that I left to her own devices and I sometimes question how she’ll spend her adult life. We’re working through some pain and doing better.

I know that this road of motherhood is a difficult one. I also know that it seems as though there’s little reward at times and we just want to give up. Take it from one who has walked the path of life with tattered shoes… savor the good times. Remember that these children did not ask to be here, we brought them into this world. The chance they have to succeed begins at home. Indeed, our children are a reflection of us.