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Becoming a mother was probably the most life- changing event that happened after arriving in Jamaica than any single event!

Becoming a mother was probably the most life- changing event that happened after arriving in Jamaica... Share on X

After all those attempts, which weren’t very many compared to others, we were ready to take a live baby home from the hospital! Because of the decisions made the year before and because it is easy for a different doctor to second guess the first doctor, we planned to return to the U.S. to the same doctor to have our baby. Fortunately, it fit well into the school schedule.

After May graduation, we returned to Ft. Lauderdale, FL, picked up our car that we left with friends, and stayed in small efficiency apartment a friend had loaned us and waited for our daughter’s birth. Of course, we kept busy keeping contact with our churches and friends. But we were waiting all the same!

Dawn Lyn arrives safely in answer to many prayers

She was due on July 4th. Fortunately, she came a little early…June 24, 1971. It was 3 days before her sister’s first birthday. We named her Dawn Lyn. She had a head full of blond hair, a dimple on her right cheek and was happy as a clam.

We saw her and couldn’t believe she was here…safe and alive! It was like a dream come true. We kept pinching ourselves to believe she was here.

Her birth could not have been more normal. There were no problems, no complications. It seemed that the earlier problems with other pregnancies were anomalies and not part of a routine situation. It looked like we would be able to plan on having our children in Jamaica. That was very good news!

In April 1973, we had our next daughter, Christy, born in Jamaica.  Then, just a few days before her 4th birthday in 1977, Holly was born.  Six weeks later, we moved back to the U.S.

Motherhood seemed normal before long

Those early years of motherhood were delightful…and tiring of course. Jamaica was the perfect place to live when raising children. It was very child centric in the sense that people loved children. They tended to make a big thing over children and didn’t expect them to be stiff little robots…usually!

Of course, children were expected to be polite and not be rude, in some ways it was like the South that sense.. And who wants a bunch of rude children around? We didn’t!

It was nice for me because I didn’t have a rigid life to fit into and was able to work around my children and their feeding schedules. Our schedule was there, but not so rigid that we couldn’t have some spontaneity on occasion.

I took to parenting and mothering like a duck takes to water in those early years when much of what is done involves caring for them and meeting their needs. When they got older, parenting was more difficult, but when they were young, although it was physically demanding, it was simpler in many ways.

Was I an exemplary mom? Not as great as GOD’s grace was.

I think our girls were not nearly as difficult by temperament as some children I’ve known. There was a time I thought it was my great parenting. Remember, I told you I could be pretty dumb at times! But as time went on, I realized that despite the fact they were plenty strong-willed, their temperaments weren’t quite as intense as some. It had little to do with us as parents.

That and the grace of GOD was working in their hearts. Of course, while we were in the middle of raising them, we had times we weren’t sure anyone would make it to adulthood! The fact that they did, had less to do with our great parenting and more to do with GOD’s grace in their lives. In the process of raising them, we discovered GOD changing us too! It was a great side benefit!

Their positive outcome as adults has had less to do with our great parenting and more to do with GOD's grace... Share on X

Eating our main meal in the middle of the day, having a siesta after (when many stores were closed as well) was fantastic.  I knew I had that time to recoup and refresh from whatever had worn me out. What more could a mother ask for?

Challenge: Can you remember a time in your life when things clicked along well? When you felt you were in the niche you were meant to fit in and you were doing well there?

How has motherhood or the frustration of not being able to be a mother affected you? Have the adjustments been difficult or even though painful at times, manageable? Not all women make the adjustment to motherhood easily or simply.