Joanna

Joanna's Thoughts on Gentle Mothering

I believe that gentle mothering is putting your children first at all costs. Children are God's gift to us and we must prove we are worthy of such a gift. Just as we are not to harm our own bodies and minds we shouldn't do anything to harm our children emotionally, mentally, or physically.

Why do you feel gentle mothering is so important?

Look at society today and it's clear that the other ways of parenting do not produce strong leaders for our future. If people continue to ignore children and put their own lives before them then this world will be a horrible place. It's a sad thing when you see mothers spanking 1 year olds for things they don't even know are wrong. Our babies come into this world knowing nothing but immediate satisfaction and it would be harmful if we abruptly take all that away. As I always say...my son will learn enough about how rude the world is...he doesn't need his mother to show him.

Why do you feel God wants you to parent this way?

It's a very long and sensitive experience. After trying to get pregnant for two years we accepted that the answer to our prayers were 'no'. We did not know it but on that day we made our final decision and accepted infertility there was already a son growing inside me. A year before getting pregnant, God saw fit to allow me to see my son before he was even conceived. In the night, a still small voice gave me his name...Matthew Sean (combined means Gracious Gift of God). A week before giving birth God used a Godly man in my church to let me know that my prayers would be answered and that I would be able to raise my son according to the Bible. I was reassured more than once by God (through this same Godly man) that God will always be there and He will see that my son would follow Him. I feel so unworthy of such a great thing. God knew ahead of time that my pregnancy would be difficult. We now believe that my unexplained weight gain of 40 lbs was so our son would have the nutrition I was unable to give him because of being so sick. God allowed so many trials in my life so that I may learn from them and teach my son to respect everyone and never let anyone convince him that things he is doing are wrong. So you see, I parent the way I do because I believe that it's the only way to prove that God did the right thing by choosing me. I let God lead me in everything I do in life.

Joanna's Testimony