Karen Kingsbury made me cry.
She did it by writing the story of the journey sons and daughters make over the years and how parents love them and will always consider them as little boys and girls, but would have to eventually let them go.
The New York Times bestselling author tugged my heartstrings with her Forever My Little Boy and Forever My Little Girl. Her writing is both nostalgic and forward looking. I can’t help but think of how I gave birth to our twins Nick and Toni, how challenging it is right now to raise hyperactive toddlers, and how emotional I become to accept the fact that they will eventually leave our nest to build their own.
For every milestone that happened in the life of the child, Kingsbury wrote prayers of thanks and guidance uttered by Dad or the Mom. She paired prayers with Bible verses shedding light and providing inspiration for parents to live by day after day.
Being a parent is a tough job.
It’s that kind of job that you can’t resign from whenever you’re frustrated or tired. You can’t just walk away and never come because you’ve had enough. Your patience yardstick has to be elastic and flexible when you’re a parent. I didn’t know that until I became one.
The books are worded and arranged in the same tone and rhythm but Kingsbury presented different moments in the lives of the boy and the girl so it’s a good idea to get both books.
In my limited years of being a parent – running three years now but feels like a lifetime – I realized that letting go of my children is the hardest thing to do. I can just imagine how much tears my eyes will shed on their first day of preschool. I don’t even want to think about the day my Nicholas tells me that he wants to court a certain girl or the Friday Toni goes out to be on a date with a handsome young lad. Don’t even get me to that stage where Jeff Junior walks down the aisle to marry the woman he loves.
My children are less than three years old so I still have a long way to go but my Mother used to say “The hours are long but the days are short. Enjoy your time with them”.
It has been particularly difficult these days to manage the children as I am sick and the three of them are also sick. Kingsbury’s books remind me to enjoy my time with my kids; to embrace their whining and crying for these will end before I even know it; to cherish their company even during sickness because sooner than later they will be out in the world where they will meet as many people as they can and Mama will only be a part of their life NOT their life.
These are good books for parents – young and old – to inspire and remind us of the wonderful times that happened and are still to happen; and to prepare us for the challenging times ahead.
Best of all, I believe Kingsbury’s books should be read by those who are planning to have children… for them to know that parenthood is not a fleeting moment but a commitment to raise future men and women who are sons and daughters of Heavenly Father.
Is it a creepy idea to set aside copies of these books and then give them as gifts for my children’s 16th birthday? I don’t intend to just give them the car keys by that time you know.
This book is magnified bythe masterful artwork and illustrations of Joanne Lew-Vriethoof which breathe life and love to Kingsbury’s words.
Thank you Miss Kingsbury and Miss Lew-Vriethoof! It has been difficult to read the books with misty eyes and stuffy nose but you’ve created two beautiful masterpieces which every parent should own.
You are etched in the anals of world parenting history.
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