Today was a sad day because my parents flew back to India where they are currently living, working with a church plant. We've had such a wonderful time over Christmas, with them getting to know Chloe again. She calls Dad 'Pa' and can't yet say 'Granny' but knows who we mean when we say Mum's name. They are back for good in April and it will be lovely to see those relationships build. One top memory from their stay was at my grandparents when we went to a candlelit carol service. It was lovely to be all together at such a special time. Chloe especially enjoyed the bell-ringers and when they turned the lights down.
Mum and Dad going back is sad, mainly because of how much they miss out on with Chloe. However my thoughts on them being away have definitely improved as time has gone on. At the start I panicked at how I would cope without their support as I started out on being a parent. Later on I felt resentful on having to miss out on the practicalities of having parents close by, especially when I was lacking sleep or feeling ill. But with them away I have had to rely on other people, which I truly think has been very good for me and our family. First and most importantly I have extremely helpful and generous parents-in-law whose help has been invaluable. I cannot over-emphasise how much they do for us!
But it doesn't stop there. When you're a mum you can end up feeling quite alone. This is especially true when you are at home with your child and they are throwing a tantrum or refusing to eat or screaming when you put them down for a nap. It's at these emotional battlegrounds when I feel in most need of support. However I have found that God's church has the perfect antidote for this! Isn't it amazing that God's plan for us is to be part of a community of all ages, from whom we can gain support and guidance? I don't have all the answers or the experience but there are lovely ladies at church who can provide wisdom on most situations concerning children. The verse in Titus about older women instructing younger women on how to love their husbands and children has spoken to me a lot about this.
We have been blessed with lots of babysitters, a friend looking after Chloe when J's mum was ill and we were working, many coffees, supervision in creche at church, words of encouragement and prayer at church and midweek group. At church Chloe has such a large number of people she knows and will go to. I am positive that this has helped her to become more confident and sociable with people she isn't familiar with. From a young age we hardly saw her at church because she was being passed around by so many people!
So even though my parents are thousands of miles away, I don't feel deprived of family. I am very thankful for the wonderful provision of the church and I am very excited about being part of such a life-changing community.
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