What Kind of Mom am I?

I've been pondering what kind of parent I am. I look around me and see all kinds of parents that I truly admire and wish I could attain too. Some of my parenting ways, I like very much and some... well, need work!

I' m the kind of Mom that is very REAL with her kids. I don't pretend to be what I am not with them. If I am scared, I say so. If I am sad, I cry. If I am happy, I tell them why and laugh with them. When we don't have the money for things they want, I tell them why. If we need money to meet a need, I tell them and we pray together for it. Then we rejoice with the goodness of God when the need is met!
I don't pretend that life is fair! I teach them that they will each get certain things at different times in life, but they will not always get the same thing or the same amount as their sisters.
Sometimes, I watch a movie or play on the computer when I really should be paying attention to them. I want to spend more time, just playing with them or talking to them because I know that I have to treasure each moment with them. I am working on that!
When I am cranky I tell them! I tell them it's not their fault but I am cranky so give me some SPACE! And then I try to teach them not to walk by their emotions... Too often I do the opposite of what I tell them to do. I make mistakes, but when I am wrong I admit it to them. I tell them I am sorry and that I am asking God to help me do better. And that's what I expect from them as well.
More than anything I want to teach them to love God. To love His Word, to love to pray! More than anything I want them to have a REAL living breathing relationship with our awesome God.
I try to pray and read the Bible with them each day, but more often than not lately, I fail. But I strive to do better.
I am too relaxed about schoolwork.
I am trying to learn to seize the moment and enjoy life. I want to seize the little opportunities, like a date day with one of my daughters or a spontaneous trip to the zoo. Or maybe, just a little baking together or a day of crocheting instead of schoolwork.
When I am in a silly mood, I act wild and crazy right in from of them. I have heard how weird I am more times than I can count. But that's OK! When I am angry I try not to lash out, sometimes I do but I always admit my mistake and apologize. I am just a real person trying to do the best that I can. I want my kids to know what is important in life. I want them to know that God is first, and that family is second. I want them to know what matters in life. People are more important than things. And how we treat each other is more important than how we treat strangers. But how we treat strangers is very important to.
I want them to know how much I love them. That everything decision I make is because I want the best for them. I want them to know, I would give my life for them. I want them to know that I am not perfect and I know it. I don't know everything but I strive to get wisdom and make myself a little better each day.
I don't hide the ugly side of life. They know the devil is real and hell is real and that you have to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ to go to Heaven. They know that people die, and hate, and do horrible things. They know it is not God's will for people to die early and that God does not cause people to hurt and suffer. They know God is good and that He desires that all would come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. They also know, that sometimes people don't choose Jesus Christ's free offer of salvation and so they go to Hell.
They know that we are a family and that we are a team and because of this we all pitch in to help make our family work. We all have our jobs to do and sometimes we have to pitch in when it is not our job. They know that we work together but we will also play together.

I don't know what brought this post on but it was just in me today!