How Benedictine Spirituality Changed the Way I Mother (at A Deeper Story)
Last spring my first book came out. It’s a memoir about prayer and motherhood and how the Rule of St. Benedict gave me permission to move toward a new sort of relationship with God: one where grace weighs heavier than my ability to be impressive.
These past few months I’ve been answering interview questions about my book, particularly, “how do you practice Benedictine spirituality with your kids?” or “how has Benedictine prayer affected the way you parent?”
These past few months I’ve also been potty training.
I’ve been cheering on my three-year-old in various toilets around San Francisco. I’ve been having conversations that sound like this: “I think you’re a big enough boy to wear underwear to school today!”
Or “You know, I’m pretty sure that you don’t even need diapers anymore!”
Or “Are you so proud of yourself? What a big kid you are!”
And there have been tears. He doesn’t want to wear underwear to school. He doesn’t want to try again in the potty. But, yes, he is more proud of this potty thing than of anything he’s ever done. He knows he’s choosing it. He knows he’s taking some risks here.
When my oldest son was potty training the tears were mostly mine. I forced him into underwear. I pushed the process on him. I wanted to check it off my list.
It’s amazing how my spiritual life mirrored my mothering life. Complete the tasks. Don’t screw up. Serve the right way. Lay down hard lines. Fail. (I always felt like I was failing.)
I have a feeling that the kind of parent we are will always mirror how we believe God sees us…
. . .
I have a new post up at Deeper Story today, one I actually wrote waaaay back last spring when I actually was potty training my son. (Now he’s a total pro because six months feels like a million years ago, right?)
Will you join me over at Deeper Story story today so you can read the rest?
Photo Credit: Icon, Sophia Institute