Helping our Young Adult KIDS!

Today I was able to attend sacrament meeting. I had all of my children on my mind today. I have been praying for and wondering how I can help each of my young adult children and teens navigate through their own trials and challenges in their life currently.

 As their mother, my first instinct is to want to protect them because I do not want them to suffer or get hurt. I would  do anything to take away their pain and suffering. It is so hard watching them make choices that you know will bring an unwanted or undesired consequence.

I thought about how our Heavenly Father must feel about all of his children on this earth. I thought about how he must feel each day watching all of us use our free agency. I though about why we were all given this free agency and know that we need it in order for us to learn and grow. I am sure our Heavenly Father would love to take away our pain and suffering but he knows if he does then it would limit our growth and what we are supposed to learn from each challenge.

Today I found peace when I read this article the the  July 2014 Ensign entitled, "Ten Tips for Parents of Young Adults". It helped me to not only trust my children and their decisions but also to know that their trials are for their own good and if I took that away from them then I would be limiting their growth.

I really loved this quote and was reminded just how important it is to not only trust God but to also trust my children and know that every decision  and obstacle they go through will help them grow and become the person God intends them to be.

"TRUST THEM WITH THEIR DECISIONS.
This doesn’t mean believing that they will always make perfect choices. It means trusting that they can be resilient, that God is forgiving, and that life can be deeply meaningful even when it includes overcom- ing failure or enduring trials. Young children can be scarred by trauma, but young adults grow from over- coming obstacles rather than avoiding them. Provide emotional and practical support, encourage breaks from the stress, pray with and for them, and inject a little humor. "


I also found peace as I read just how important it is to love them for the amazing person they are and the great qualities they have. Showing love and acceptance for them as an individual child of God will show them you are more concerned about their well being then what others may think. 

Each of us struggle some how or some way  during our life and we should never judge others when they are going through their difficult times. Because we could very well be in the same predicament later.

"MEASURE TRUE SUCCESS. When we focus too much on how others will judge us for our children’s choices (either for good or bad), we lose objectivity, and we often lose the Spirit. Remember that our success as parents is not defined by how well our children live our values but by how consistently and selflessly we live them."

I love this last quote as it helped me to remember the spirit will help us as parents know what we need to say and do in order to help our children become the person the Lord intends them to become!

"As we prayerfully consider the needs and personalities of each of our young adult children, the Spirit can help us guide without criticizing, support without suffocating, and step back without abandoning. As we do so, our young adult children will come to trust that both we and the Lord are on their side. "


I know if I keep a prayer in my heart for my kids at all time, I will be blessed by the spirit and know what I need to say and do in order to help them navigate, and not protect them, from all of their struggles and challenges.