Walking Therein

Bridging the Gap: Mother ~ Daughter Time

Posted By Jacque on August 6, 2008

Originally posted at Growing in Grace Magazine

March 1, 2008

Ephesians 5:15-17

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

Having had three daughters first, we have always done things together as mom and daughters. Amanda and I started our relationship when I first held her tiny little newborn frame in my arms. I don’t know that I had held such a new baby before then. And so began our love as mother and daughter. I have almost always been at home with her, watching her and playing with her, teaching her as we did all things. When she was still little, we would sing and dance together as we played Bible songs on tape. We took walks to look at the neighborhood animals or the pretty flowers, just to enjoy the sunshine. It is so easy to teach a little child as we are walking along talking, Amanda didn’t even know she was learning!

Amanda and I were soon joined by two more daughters. Each time we were expecting a new baby, we talked about how we would love the new baby and care for her. We did all the ‘mommy things’ together; rocking our babies, nursing our babies, pushing them in their strollers. We were best friends. With two more sisters to join us, we played in the sand, took long walks, and all got our hair done at Grandma’s Shoppe. Talk about a girls’ day out!

Deuteronomy 6:6, 7

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

After a few years, we were joined by a baby brother, but that didn’t change much. Amanda and Jocelyn stayed home for school, Rachel played, and we all ‘took care’ of Eric. Life provides us with so many opportunities to do things together, we rarely have to create them! Playing mommy with their own real-life baby brother .

As the girls grew older, we were able to do different things together. In the past five years, with daughters who have aged from thirteen, eleven, nine and three to their now almost-grown-up eighteen, sixteen, fourteen and eight and under one, we have experienced many new activities together as we learn day-to-day. One thing that I have learned about spending time with my girls is that we can do almost any project or special occasion, no matter their age. When I was introduced to scrapbooking by a friend, I soon found out that I could also scrapbook with the girls. What fun we have had reminiscing, looking at old pictures and showing each other our best work. Even Rachel, who was only eight at the time loved watching and learning. We held our own parties together, which eventually turned into “their parties”, and they set everything up and prepared the menus. They are very good and quite organized. They even completed some of their younger siblings’ albums for me.

Many of the things that we enjoy and spend time together doing are simple things around our home. We also have loads of fun working projects for the family or gifts. There is a misconception that parents must spend a lot of money investing in the relationships with their children. The truth is that you can do it almost for free!

Ecclesiastes 3:1
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven

Here are just some of the other activities we enjoy together as mother and daughters:
Do a Bible Study Time
It is a important to read the Bible together as a family, but what fun to include our daughters as a part of growing in the Lord as a woman of God!

Read a Book Together
If you and your daughter love to read, this is a fun way to share time together. You can do it in the living room, at the coffee shop or discuss it as you drive places together.

Exercise
The girls are Tae-Bo fans. They love to exercise, and love to be in shape. They did buy their own DVDs, but you can also check your local library. I join them when I can. I love to be in shape, but don’t love the exercise quite so much. I am learning!

Walking
Now this exercise I can handle. I love to walk! If I had two or three hours a day, I would walk. As a matter of fact, all of us walking together has been some of the most fun times we have had. It is a time you can walk with just one daughter and get to know her better, share some motherly wisdom or walk with more than one. It is fun and there are so many things to talk about.

Cooking
I love to cook. I remember making donuts and apple fritters when I was little with my sister and brother. I wasn’t more than ten, I guess. I remember when my dad taught us how to make pasta and cut it. The times of my life! I let our girls in the kitchen. From the youngest to the smallest, they are in there with whomever is cooking meals or just about anything.

Baking
This is not the same as cooking. It’s great to enjoy cooking together, but making cookies or a birthday cake or a favorite treat is just plain fun! We have also enjoyed learning how to make our own bread from scratch. Our Littles, ages four, eight and ten can follow a recipe and work in the kitchen to make a delicious batch of chocolate chip cookies!

Quilting and Sewing
Our oldest two decided they wanted to make quilts. I had never quilted before. Well, once on a field trip, but that barely counted. I didn’t even own a sewing machine! We all worked together and made quilts, helping each other, spending time with each other. Now they can use a sewing machine, and they like it. We even still have another quilt to make or two.
They also have learned how to follow a pattern. We have made skirts, a bath robe, purses, pillow case, traveling bag, an everday bag, and othe smaller projects, just because they decided they wanted their own customized quilts.

Get a Blog
One of the most exciting and bonding things the girls and I have done is to all get a blog on HomschoolBlogger.com. Blogging gave us the opportunity to be responsible to each other, know the same circle of friends and to have new insight into each others’ hearts and personalities. It has been a wonderful way for me to be involved in the girls’ lives, reading their articles before they post them and commenting on their blogs.

Tea-time or Tea Parties
When Amanda was little, she had a plastic tea set. We pretended with it. Now, we use real tea cups with real tea. We don’t even use a plastic one for the Littles, we let them join us sometimes. A lot of times our special tea-time is after the Littles go to bed when Rachel prepares and serves tea to us. It has become a special time. We are hoping to plan and have our own tea party, though, with china set out all proper.

Babysit for a Friend
Occasionally a friend may need help and this is a great opportunity to teach your daughter to give of her time. It can be fun to work together, spending time caring for Littles.

Other activities to share time doing:
Wash dishes.
Go grocery shopping.
Walk the dog.
Go shopping together for gifts.
Host a party or demonstration show together and earn free product
Read the current issue of your favorite magazine.
Clean the house together.

I am a blessed momma of five daughters. We enjoy being together, no matter the ages. I hope that some of our experiences will be of encouragement to you and your daughters to take time to enjoy each other as mothers and daughters.

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Comments

2 Responses to “Bridging the Gap: Mother ~ Daughter Time”

Miss Eyebright says:

August 7, 2008 at 12:09 pm

Hi Mrs. Dixon!

I really loved this article. I always love hearing about what you guys do anyway, and then this gave me some wonderful ideas! I also wanted to tell you that I liked your article in the TOS.

I do have a question though, when do you do your scrapbooking, and what do your boys do while you are doing it?

Thank you very much for these wonderful ideas!
Have a very bright, very cheerful day!
Miss Eyebright

[Reply]
Denise says:

August 12, 2008 at 3:13 pm

Excellent list of ideas! My daughters and I have enjoyed many of these things, too.

Denises last blog post..Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies, and More Freebies

[Reply]

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