The Meanest Mother in the World

"We choose those we will be like, those we will relate to, those we will release our innermost thoughts to. We may think we are aimlessly associating with others but we’re not. Friends influence our morals and attitudes second only to family. This is why parents scrutinize their children’s acquaintances so closely. I am so thankful for my friends. I agree to walk with them because they walk with Christ. O, Lord, as we walk, keep our paths straight and narrow. When we stray, quickly bring us back with what ever technique You must use. If I ignore Your elbow, You have my permission to use stronger methods." - Vonda Ludke

As my son starts exerting independence in his choice of friends, I realize how important those choices are. I look at my own life, and realize that as an adult (am I really an adult??) I have chosen to surround myself with Godly people. My circle of friends comes from two main sources: Church, and Stained Glass Theatre. Honestly, I think it has been a subconscious choice, and I suppose the credit for that belongs to my parents...

So I owe a long overdue thanks to Mom and Daddy for badgering me incessantly about where I was going and with whom and what time I would be home, etc. Reluctantly, I have to say "Yes, Mom, you were right" (I hate those words...) yet again. My mom was the "Meanest Mother in the World" when I was in school. You know the one. All your friends have a great idea, and somebody says "No, we can't do that because so-and-so's Mom won't let her." Just call me so-and-so. And your friend was right. Mom wouldn't have let me. Guess what? My friends' moms LOVED my Mom. They got to say yes to anything and be the "cool mom" because they knew that MY Mom would take the responsibility to say no. My Mom would also insist that everybody come hang out at our house, just so she knew what was going on and we weren't all roaming the streets. We had an open door policy (Mom always said we had a Revolving Front Door) and all my friends knew they were welcome at any time. Some of Daddy's students even slept on our couch when they were having problems with their own folks.

Now that the tables are turned, I guess it is my turn to be the Meanest Mother in the World. Just tonight I found myself saying to my son "No, honey, you can NOT go be with them. They are running around and being loud in church, and that is not respectful of God's house." Trying to contain an energetic 4 year old boy during a two-hour church service is no easy task, but when his friends are being allowed to run through the sanctuary at full tilt, it becomes Mission Impossible. I guess this is just the beginning of my Boot Camp towards becoming the next Meanest Mother in the World...