I'm a mom of six children, and I've learned a few things:

1. People take great pleasure in sharing their parenting horror stories.

If you are pregnant, people want you to fear labor.
If you have a newborn, they warn you about teething.
If you have a new walker, they want you to fear climbing and running.

There is only one thing they enjoy more than sharing parenting horror stories and that is...

2. Making sure you fear the next stage.

If you are pregnant, people want you to fear labor.
If you have a newborn, they warn you about teething.
If you have a new walker, they want you to fear climbing and running.
And then there's the phrase we hear from the moment we discover we're pregnant, “Just wait until they are teenagers!”

Friend, I want to tell you, “Do not be afraid!”

Yes, there are hard moments in parenting. You'll face unexpected challenges and sometimes question your sanity, but fear, if you allow it, will keep you from enjoying your child today. Fear focuses your mind on an unknown future and bogs you down with worries that most likely will never come to pass.

Personally, I loved my older kids' teen years. We had a great time as a family, and for the most part our teens were respectful. (Bonus: they could run to the store for milk!) Yes, there were emotional moments during the preteens years, but God reminded me that patience and empathy goes a long way.

We've dealt with issues from having unkind friends and I did have a climber, but looking back I wish I could stop worrying so much about “what was coming.” It robbed me of some of the joy of the moment. I'm doing better about not worrying so much with our second set of kids. I choose to remember who God is, and what He promises to provide, instead.

Jeremiah was a prophet who lived during the destruction of Jerusalem, and even though parenting is hard, there are very few of us who will have our whole world crumble around us like what Jeremiah faced. And what was Jeremiah's advice?

The Lord's loving-kindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I have hope in Him.” Lamentations 3:22-24 NASB

Mom, don't get focused on what could happen in the future. Don't worry about college when your child has yet to enter preschool. Instead, remember that God will be there the moment you need Him. His lovingkindness never ceases. His compassions never fail. They are new every morning.