Awana Forums

Is it seeing your child off to college knowing that you no longer have control over their lives? Watching them go off to kindergarten for the first time? Dealing with the issues of their adolescence after they enter the teen years? Observing them struggle with doubts about their faith?

To stir the discussion, on the new Modern-Day Joseph blog, three Awana ministry experts shared their own Most Difficult Moments as parents. You can read them here: http://www.awana.org/moderndayjoseph/default.aspx?id=2343. 

Seeing my daughter leave on her first date...

seoxford:

Seeing my daughter leave on her first date...

Oh my goodness, I hadn't thought about that one yet

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Never Too Little to Know the Lord!
Carol

Losing my 24 year old son 19 years ago. PTL he was a christian so I will see him again

(please note: I dont have any kids of my own, but I saw this from the eyes of my parents this week)

seeing your youngest move out.

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Sparky leader for the AWESOME 1ST GRADE RED TEAM SPARKS!!!!!!!!
Citation 08
http://biblelessonslearned.blogspot.com/

"that's a really old.. CAR!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Watching my son go through his 4th seizure after a bad day at school.  I knew then that there was more wrong than just autism.  Watching him, and watching his sisters get really scared.  It still makes me want to cry.

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Trina

With my 21 month old, saying "no" and sticking with it, because she is so cute and adorable!

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JOSIE LYNN
Journey On!
This is my 21st year in Awana!
2nd Citation '09

Ashland, Oregon

"Jesus loves the little children! All the children of the world!"

Trying to keep my daughter from thinking she's 18 (she's the ripe old age of 10)!!!

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Sparks4Fun

Mom to T&T'er
Sparks leader 4 years;
Secretary and Sparks Director '08-'09

Sparks4Fun:

Trying to keep my daughter from thinking she's 18 (she's the ripe old age of 10)!!!

This reminds me of my twin granddaughters. Once when they were 7 years old I had them & had to run to the store. I told them to get ready & they said they wanted to stay home. I told them they were too young. Together they replyed "No together we are 14 & that's old enough." Nice try

I love that -- too funny!  Two smart cookies! 

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Sparks4Fun

Mom to T&T'er
Sparks leader 4 years;
Secretary and Sparks Director '08-'09

At least they're related.  I remember adding up ages with neighbor kids to make us older.

They were & are (now 22) a pair. They cut each others hair one day & their mom thought she'd be smart & put their diapers on backwards becaude they took them off. They just backed up to one another & undid the other one's. The youngest one has a 2 year old daughter just like her

I'm not a parent, but I have thought much about this... and I think the hardest thing would be for a child to not be walking with the Lord.  3 John 1:4 says, I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.  I think for this not to be the case would be the greatest sorrow for a parent.  As tough as the death of a child would be, there is great peace in knowing that they are with the Lord, but for one that isn't walking with Him, there isn't much peace.  It would be very tough.

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Isaiah 40:28-31

Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.
-Jonathan Edwards-

I honestly think my most difficult moment as a parent was getting over the fears of the first year of my daughters life. I have Bipolar Disorder that had been misdiagnosed until then. After I gave birth, I suffered with really horrible Postpartum Psychosis. The Devil was picking on me really bad. I was hospitalized twice that first year. In the two years since, I have been able to get off my medications and begin to enjoy my daughter. I have incredible guilt over having gotten sick, and blame myself for not being a better mother when she needed me most. Through prayer and meditations, I am overcoming this, but it is very hard. After what we've been through as a family so far... I'm pretty sure we can handle cut hair and first dates.

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Mommy to a wonderful Puggle, Wifey to a wonderful Youth Pastor in Training.