Skip to content
The Catholic Leader
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
The Catholic Leader
No Result
View All Result
Home Life Family Faith

Thank God He is with us every step of the way

byStaff writers
24 January 2014 - Updated on 16 March 2021
Reading Time: 3 mins read
AA
baby's first steps

Stepping out: First steps and later stepping out in search of independence are milestones to savour.

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
baby's first steps
Stepping out: First steps and later stepping out in search of independence are milestones to savour.

Family Faith by Selina Venier

IRONICALLY, the three of them seem to have “ants in their pants”.

My children are all taking the well known saying almost literally and in unison.

The irony is in the fact their ages differ by a decade, at least. In common they have an uncanny ability to ensure I go greyer by the day.

Master Seven Months has decided to cross the barrier from babyhood to toddlerdom and dive headfirst from any contraption that formerly kept him contained.

Those who have children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews can, more than likely, remember that moment when you stopped and thought, “Hang on, you couldn’t do that before” or “How in the world did you get over there?” with a cheeky expression peering back.

It doesn’t matter if it’s the pram, the change table, the cot or his previously well loved floor mat, Master Seven Months has decided to well and truly develop his adventurous spirit.

My Rosaries have equally stepped up three notches.

At the same time, the Misses, aged 12 and 11, have voiced no end of requests to dive head first into more independence.

“Can I ride by myself to school, Mum?” I heard for most of last term, followed by, “(Such and such) does?” as if that aids the cause.

Related Stories

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies

Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition

Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

My mind flashed to when I was their age and something similar would have likely hospitalised my mother.

It then goes to the day in Year One when Miss 11 turned and said, “It’s okay, you don’t need to come in with me.”

“Hang on, you couldn’t do that before” and “How in the world did you get over there?” I had thought even then.

I smiled but felt teary and marvelled at the passing of time.

Mind screeching back to reality Miss 11 was quick to list the benefits of my staying home to recuperate from being up many times with her brother the previous night.

My answer was still an emphatic “not today” mostly because I delight in full participation in the morning farewells to the school gate.

Eventually however we compromised – she could ride not to school but from school and we’d meet half way, at the local park, and then return home together.

It didn’t happen every day of the term, just often enough for Miss 11 to feel more “grown up”.

Each time I saw an independent sparkle in her eye, the kind that makes you want to hug your child into tomorrow, remembering all their yesterdays with such fondness.

My curly-haired little girl was still there but she’s becoming a young woman, I thought.

I sat in the park watching her play after school, again marvelling at the passing of time.

Miss 12 was there too, playing alongside her, and Master Seven Months was doing his best Houdini impersonation.

I thanked God for still allowing the girls to be children and enjoy outdoor play and imaginative games, as they often do at home too.

I thanked God Master Seven Months was so full of curious energy, just as an imminent toddler should be.

I asked God to protect them daily because when I’m not with them or can’t be, He is. And that’s exactly the reason I can sleep at night.

It’s exactly the reason I’ve said yes to both the Misses extending their independence these holidays and riding that little bit further.

It’s a stretch for me as a parent to trust, I admit it, and by that I mean to trust the world our children are thrust into.

There seems to be a fine line between allowing your children to gain independence while teaching them what is wise and prudent.

There’s also a fine line between independence and waiting for the right time.

So bring on the toddlerdom and teenagehood in unison.

With God, I’m greyer, but ready.

[divider]

ShareTweet
Previous Post

Brisbane follows Pope’s way

Next Post

Friends in need

Staff writers

Related Posts

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies
QLD

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies

20 May 2022
Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition
QLD

Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition

20 May 2022
Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning
QLD

Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

19 May 2022
Next Post
Girl looking out window sadly

Friends in need

Sacramental lesson raises questions

Carmel Nash

Commitment to Church, school begins at home

Popular News

  • Angel’s Kitchen serves hot meals to the hungry in Southport

    Angel’s Kitchen serves hot meals to the hungry in Southport

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Queensland election: The pro-life political parties committed to abortion law reforms

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Nationwide rosary event happening for Australia’s patroness this Saturday

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Search our job finder
No Result
View All Result

Latest News

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies
QLD

Gwen has given 15,000 hours of cuddles to sick and premature babies

by Joe Higgins
20 May 2022
0

BRISBANE grandmother Gwendoline Grant has clocked up 15,000 hours cuddling and caring for sick and premature babies...

Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition

Helping stroke survivors earns Ozcare volunteer national recognition

20 May 2022
Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

19 May 2022
Catholic relationship advisers offer five tips to look after your mental health

Nationwide rosary event happening for Australia’s patroness this Saturday

19 May 2022
Francis offers advice on politics: Seek unity, don’t get lost in conflict

Francis offers advice on politics: Seek unity, don’t get lost in conflict

19 May 2022

Never miss a story. Sign up to the Weekly Round-Up
eNewsletter now to receive headlines directly in your email.

Sign up to eNews
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe

The Catholic Leader is an Australian award-winning Catholic newspaper that has been published by the Archdiocese of Brisbane since 1929. Our journalism seeks to provide a full, accurate and balanced Catholic perspective of local, national and international news while upholding the dignity of the human person.

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader
Accessibility Information | Privacy Policy | Archdiocese of Brisbane

The Catholic Leader acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Peoples of this country and especially acknowledge the traditional owners on whose lands we live and work throughout the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader

0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyChoose another Subscription
    Continue Shopping