About the Author

Robin is the author of For All Who Wander, her relatable memoir about wrestling with doubt that reads much like a conversation with a friend. She's as Southern as sugar-shocked tea, married to her college sweetheart, and has three children. An empty nester with a full life, she's determined to...

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
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(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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Comments

  1. Robin,
    Your words are SO true. What we say to our children and how we frame our remarks will forever shape them. My children are 24 and 20 and I still affirm the qualities ( bother inner and outer) that I did when they were little. We never outgrow our need for affirmation. Thank you for sharing as only the heart of a mom can share.
    Blessings,
    Bev

    • Bev, you and I, because of the ages of our babies, KNOW what I speak is true. It’s been TRIED, hasn’t it? I don’t want to think about all the times I missed those opportunities, so I’m THANKFUL for those I know I got right.

      Mothers NEED to know they’re their kids’ parents because no one else is better suited to fill that gap. We need to celebrate and acknowledge our special role in the lives of our babies. Never perfect but perfect for our children. 🙂

      xo

  2. Thank you thank you! I wonderful reminder! It is funny my boys will already tell me how they liked the time I told them they were my superhero! And their heart muscle was my favorite part. They still laugh at it and think its funny. But one day I hope they get it!

    Thank you!

  3. Thank you for this, Robin. As a mother to a three year old boy I so want to raise him to be confident, gentle, strong… all those traits I already see forming in him. What a grace-filled and instructive post.

    • Mary,

      Sometimes all it takes is a tiny seed to sprout big ideas that have lasting impact; I’m praying over these words to ripple through the relationships of mamas and their babies….and beyond???

  4. Thank you for sharing that perspective as it pertains to boys. Right now I have two sons, ages 3 and 1. Often women don’t think men deal with the same body image issues we do. They may not be exactly the same but they still happen. Through my three brothers and my husband, I know this. And I hope I do a good job with my sons in this area.

    • Melissa,

      You’re SO right; in our case, some things were more obvious than others (hence, me missing our thing…). How wise for you to understand this with your boys so young now.

  5. As a mother I never considered my role as powerful. I see doubt and regret all around me. It is hard. I read this post three times in a row. It touched my heart and encouraged me. Thank you Robin

    • {{Sheena}}

      Honey, you’re doin’ the best with what you’ve got…I’m SO thankful you saw this post so YOU could begin processing your POWERFUL role and how it will (already is!) manifest itself in your family. You’ve blessed me by letting me know this has encouraged you, and I’m filled with hope for what that means for you (and others like you. I promise, you aren’t the only one who feels this way).

  6. Thank you so much for this today! As the mother of an 8 year old girl, and once a self-conscious little girl myself, I struggle with how to instill confidence in my daughter.
    I don’t want her to feel the same hurts that I did and live the same disrespectful way in reference to how she feels about herself.
    I want to teach her what beautiful really means and really is.
    Thanks for the pointers!
    Amazing words that I will use to share with her!
    ~Leslie~

    • Leslie,

      We all have our secret hurts, those things from our past we might not have ever told a soul. I figure their redemption is in how we respond in our futures, ya know? For you to recognize the things you’ve spoken of here is indicator you’re redeeming your personal pain into something lovely for your daughter.

      Being aware is the first step. You’re well on your way to the second or third :).

  7. Hugs, Robin!! Such a beautiful post on (in)courage. I am forwarding to all my peeps! Thank you for sharing! Have a Blessed Mother’s Day!!

  8. Oh, Robin, I feel your words. My kids are 21, 20 and 15. I look back and see things I’ve done right and things I’ve missed out on. It happens to all of us…Lovely words today.

  9. The instant I read your words, I thought, “well done!” So I had to stop over here and say so. Wise words. Thank you. And blessings on your family for generations to come!

  10. Well said. As I mother of six, I know exactly what you’re talking about. Thanks for sharing your heart and the wisdom you’ve earned. Congratulations on another milestone as a parent. Graduation. Make some more memories. Blessings.

  11. I was so touched by your post! My husband and I shared your views on parenting and pray that our children realize throughout their lives that they were fearfully and wonderfuly made… we make sure to let them know constantly! God knew and loved them before they were even born. Thats how special they are/we are!

  12. As an empty-nester, I want to add my voice to yours, Robin, and to those who’ve already commented: the seeds we plant in our children take a very long time to grow. It’s easy to lose heart and think we’re not accomplishing much. Posts such as yours offer hope and encouragement that the things we say and do (day after day after day) MATTER.

    One day I asked our youngest (out of three) to rate his childhood–1 for absolutely awful to 10 for fantastic. He was a young adult by this time. I was feeling guilty because when he was in second grade, I had returned to teaching full time. My hope was that he’d at least say “seven.” Imagine the relief and joy to hear, “Eleven!” Our kids forgive us for being imperfect parents; perhaps it happens when they realize they weren’t perfect kids!

  13. Robin,

    Congratulations on your son graduating! WOOT WOOT!!! 🙂

    Everyone wants to hear they are beautiful, pretty, etc. It doesn’t matter how old you are–you still like hearing it. It is especially true with young children & teenagers these days. With all the hoopla and crap in magazines and on TV about size, and looking like famous people–these kids get the wrong image. The image that beauty is outside only–wrong wrong wrong. It is inside–true beauty lies within your heart and how you treat people!!

  14. Oh, Robin, how this zinged me. I affirm to my son all the time how handsome and kind he is. And I sometimes forget my daughter! I tell her she’s strong and capable and cute as a button, but I sometimes forget to feed that need to know she’s beautiful to others. We all have it – and reading your words here reminded me of how important it is to shepherd our children’s hearts in ALL of the ways they need it. As best as we can.

  15. Thank you for such a wonderful post. It reminds me of how I’ve told my middle daughter that her scar on her neck (from removing a rogue lymph node – which was benign) is the most beautiful scar in the world. The first time I told her that she looked at me funny and I went on to explain…”It’s beautiful because it reminds me of the fact that you are healthy!”. I believe she too, looks at it this way now at the age of 19.

  16. What a great gift you have and are giving your children! And what a wonderful reminder to look for ways to build our children up!

    My Mother always told me I was ugly…and I remember when a teacher told me I had nice eyes, and I thought that was the only thing nice about me because it was the only time I had heard any positive words about my looks. I am thankful for that teacher, because I began working to look up…above my shame…to make eye contact…act like a person instead of an embarrassment…I wonder how it might have felt for my Mother to admire my eyes…

    Keep telling the children…your own nearly grown…others you see who crave to be seen lovely…and thank you for sharing with us the importance of such a blessing!