Right

Dear Sprout,

As you grow, you will find that it is relatively easy to distinguish right from wrong. Be kind, not mean. Be encouraging and uplifting, not negative and belittleing. Try your best, don't give up. However, you will find that there are also instances when you are not exactly sure what "right" is. There will undoubtedly be times when you will have to make a decision and you pray that you made the correct one. Right now, Mommy and Daddy are doing just that.

When I was pregnant, the decision was made that I would stay home with you. We knew that one income would still cover our expenses. Although a strict budget would have to be enforced, we were determined to make it work. The one thing we did not know was that Dad would be laid off. When this happened, we thought that another job would present itself and that we would continue on with "Plan A." As time went on, we came up with "Plan B" ... we'd both find part time jobs ... easier said than done. Perhaps it's time for "Plan C" -- Mommy will go back to teaching full time and Daddy will stay home with you.

Plans A, B, and C are all different, but they do have one thing in common. One of us will be your caretaker. When praying about this early on, we both thought that Mommy would be that one ... and she still might be, we just aren't sure. Maybe you will get to spend lots of your time with Daddy. Maybe that's "right." You see some babies stay home with mommies, some with daddies, some with relatives or friends, some go to daycare, some go to a sitter... What's correct for one family may not be for another family. Even though all of these options aren't the same, parents do what's best for their particular child at that particular time. And this family, your slightly perplexed family, will continue to pray and seek to do what is best for you. It is so important that in the midst of all this busybody searching mess that Mommy and Daddy remember to BE STILL and know that God knows what is best.

Several years ago, a pastor told me "You want what's good for you but God wants what's best for you." Please remember this.

Love always,
Mommy