During an interview earlier this year, we asked Anna Duggar to share her advice for first-time moms. We pray that her words of wisdom will be an encouragement to all the young parents out there.
Lily and Ellie: What advice do you have for a first-time mommy?
Anna Duggar: #1: Have a learning spirit. I remember with Mackynzie, I thought we had so much figured out. And then with Michael, I was like, "What can I learn?" And then with Marcus, it really brought me to my knees. I realized I couldn't do it on my own and that I needed God's wisdom to love each one of my children individually.
#2: Enjoy each moment. I encourage moms to invest in their kids' lives, even when they are babies. When you have one child, it's still fairly easy to run around and do things, but try to remember to spend one-on-one time with that child because he or she is going to be the example that your other kids are going to follow.
Photo courtesy duggarfamily.com
Lily and Ellie: What advice do you have for a first-time mommy?
Anna Duggar: #1: Have a learning spirit. I remember with Mackynzie, I thought we had so much figured out. And then with Michael, I was like, "What can I learn?" And then with Marcus, it really brought me to my knees. I realized I couldn't do it on my own and that I needed God's wisdom to love each one of my children individually.
#2: Enjoy each moment. I encourage moms to invest in their kids' lives, even when they are babies. When you have one child, it's still fairly easy to run around and do things, but try to remember to spend one-on-one time with that child because he or she is going to be the example that your other kids are going to follow.
Anna Duggar demonstrates how she strives to invest in each of her kids' lives by bringing three-month-old Meredith Duggar to Jessa's birthday lunch, which took place one day before Spurgeon Seewald's birth. (Also pictured in this photo: Jinger Duggar, Jana Duggar, Ben Seewald, Jessa Seewald, Jordyn Duggar)
To find out how Anna keeps her kids quiet and still during church, read our post from August 3rd.
Photo courtesy duggarfamily.com
Really good point Anna!!!
ReplyDeleteYounger ones follow oldest one's example. So be sure to teach the oldest one well!
I'll keep that in mind.
Great encouragement!!!!
Very wise advice.
Keep it coming Anna...I really do learn a lot from you
I took my kids everywhere with me, my husband worked a lot over seas so I had to care for them a lot of the time on my own but talk to them and get a good relationship going with them. I found cleaning early and then taking them out to a theme park or zoo for the day made for a really nice day.and I got home and the house was clean and tidy so less stress.when my husband was around we did everything together and had lovely family time.
DeleteI love to hear more about Anna + kids and how they are doing. are they still living with the duggar clan? thanks Lily & Ellie!!
ReplyDeleteDo these folks not believe in Sunday School for kids, where they can be taught at their own level in a fun way and make crafts and friends? How boring for them to be in the main sanctuary. Sunday school was one of my fun memories from childhood. Also VBS.
ReplyDeleteI agree. My husband and I work with the youth at our church. They have Sunday School, Children's CHURCH and MASTERS CLUB., each Sunday. So, they get GOD'S Word at their level. And it is a great ministry.
DeleteYou needed God's wisdom to love your children??
ReplyDeleteDid Josh and Anna really move back to Arkansas if so when did they move back
ReplyDeleteThey moved back about the time the first scandal broke.
DeleteAnna is very special. The Duggar family is blessed she is so patient and supporting.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless you and your family.....thank you for taking the time to invest yourself in other families...what a blessing you are.
ReplyDeleteSusan
I love Josh and Anna. I can't wait to see them in the new series with Mackynzie, Mike, Mark, and Meredith.
ReplyDeleteIt is not a new series... only 3 specials I believe. And Josh will *not* be a part of them.
DeleteUmmm.....they aren't going to be a part of that at all......
DeleteJosh ruined their last show or everyone, I would think they would keep him all out of the way. The advertisers wont Stand for their products being associated with Josh
DeleteYou have to love her spirit and her genuine love for her babies ! I pray blessings and healing over this precious and amazingly strong young mother! God will provide her needs and HE is giving her strength !
ReplyDeleteI've seen so much gossip about Josh. Is he really out of rehab? I'm praying for Anna daily.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Anna you look amazing
ReplyDeleteHow is anna doing? She has been in my thoughts and prayers. On my hardest days, I find such comfort and encouragement in watching episodes that feature her and her little ones. It makes me feel like I am not alone. :-)
ReplyDeleteI thinks it's amazing when a parent can homeschool their child(ren)! I pray for patience just getting through homework some nights. Your patience is inspiring.
ReplyDeleteI home schooled both of my kids and the are well up in the medical field now.
DeleteIt keeps you really close,
DeleteSo happy to see you smile you have had a hard road and came out smiling for you kids i admire you courage and faith you ate beautiful inside and out God bless you all
ReplyDeleteAnna I hope you are doing well. God Bless you
ReplyDeleteAnna try doing the mothering thing without all the god stuff, it gives you more time to concen trate on the important things.you don't need a man in your life ramming religion down your throat continually. Just enjoy your kids, keep away from Josh and be safe.
DeleteIt is good to hear from you Anna Duggar !! It's a good picture of y'all at Jessa's birthday lunch I also have the same birthday as Jessa Seewald Nov. 4th !!! I Love the Duggars !
ReplyDeleteYou are such a wonderful and inspirational mother!! Thanks for sharing your wisdom!
ReplyDeleteAnna be strong for your kids you can do this the kids will love you for it later when they are old enough to understand.
DeleteThank you, Anna. I'm a mom of 3 and have always wished that you would write a blog or a book. You're a great mom, and I miss seeing and learning from you.
ReplyDeleteAnna, that's very good advice which all young mothers should read.
ReplyDeleteThank you Anna. I was so very happy to see the picture at Jessa's birthday and to read your wise words of advise. Praying for all of our children and families!! Love and God bless you all.
ReplyDeleteSo according to this...jessa was in labor during this luncheon...why was she out and about eating if she was in labor?
ReplyDeleteUnless it was a very active part of labor you can totally do that. It's the beauty of homebirth. But you can do that with a hospital birth as well. It's so much better to be out and about during that easier stage moving and focusing on other things. I believe it helps labor in the long run go smoother.
DeleteAnna, you are a delight and breath of fresh air in this world. My hope is that you'll always be honored, loved and respected. And be able to set appropriate boundaries when you are not being treated lovingly. This will go a long way with parenting your 4 beautiful children, and give them a strength to persevere under difficult circumstances, And stand firm against unloving behaviors. I have so much respect for you as a mom.
ReplyDeleteStand firm.
My Dad taught us to be quiet in church by reaching over and squeezing our trapzius! Ow! He might be a short man but he could reach any one of the five of us. I think I only got it seriously once or twice! Other times it was just a warning squeeze.
ReplyDeleteGreat advice! Thanks Anna
ReplyDeleteThank you Anna! We have three, and each one needs loved a little differently. Needed the reminder..
ReplyDeleteYou are a wise Mommy! ♥
ReplyDeleteI just cringe when I see Anna's name in the spotlight. I know this was not her choosing or doing but I think she just needs to fade to as normal of an out of the lime light life she can have. She will be criticized (right or wrong) for the rest of her life. She just needs to live her life with her 4 young kids away from the public eye!
ReplyDeleteThanks Anna I love hearing your exspiriances! I missed so much having had a historectomy at 23 and having no biological children you bring me joy how you weather the storms of life to find the promises continue to be fulfilled. It goes to show you., it's not what happens that makes you but rather how it is submitted to the Father and how you choose to walk faithfully fulfilling your calling with you little blessings!
ReplyDeleteAnnas father is in Florida and once you have had your children it is your duty to look after them as best you can
DeleteHey Anna, just wanted you to know that I am praying for you. My dad had an affair on my mom years ago and even though he wanted to leave her, she was committed to God and her marriage. Today they are happily married and serving God together. It was a bumpy road, but I'm glad they worked it out.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your testimony, thank you for letting God work through you. It is a blessing to me.
If Anna marriage is a testament to having god working through it then I am so pleased that my husband and I did it alone as we have had 40 wonderful years together with no extra people getting involved in our marriage. Two wonderful sons whoaremaking a difference to this world with one having been given an award a by the state for his good work.
DeleteI miss you all so much. Watching as your family grows and lessons learned. Hope you all have a great life and keep us old women informed. May you never forget that God is your light and in him you have love, joy and comfort.
ReplyDeleteI love Anna!! It's nice to hear about her. Can you give us a current update on how she's doing? She has my well-wishes, prayers, and support!
ReplyDeleteI learned to enjoy each son in a different way and now at 33, 34 and 36, they are very different from each other and are very comfortable apart as well as together.
ReplyDeleteThank you Anna :) It is so true about the older teaching the younger, and that still carries even as they get older. I would have loved to have heard your input when my two were younger. Thank you so much for being an honourable wife and example to all who are watching. May you take shelter under His wings moment by moment.
ReplyDeleteAnna is such a patient and loving mother. I would like to know more about her methods of child training, especially when a child directly defies a parental wish. We homeschool also and there are moments of many times we love learning together, but many where my son, in particular, refuses to accomplish much. Punishments make him want to give up.
ReplyDeleteBlessing to you, Anna, and your little tribe!
@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, most modern Sunday school is turning our kids away from the Lord. :( check out Answers in Genesis, they have great stuff!
I wonder how Anna is.. ): i wonder if she will ever have more kids. im sure she would love more. if they so im suggesting Miracle as a "M" name. its quite fitting after what is occuring.
ReplyDeleteI'm familiar with Answers in Genesis, but was not aware that most modern Sunday Schools are turning kids away from the Lord. Who is now proclaiming that?
ReplyDelete@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteKen Ham of Answers in Genesis wrote an eye opening book called Already Gone. It is completely unintentional that Sunday Schools are harming our kids, but nevertheless, they are. Through extensive research and surveys, one of the things they discovered is that those who faithfully attend Sunday School as kids are more likely to walk away from the faith.
@Grace
ReplyDeleteGrace, thanks so much for the info. I skimmed the Answers in Genesis and will look into it further. I think kids are better off being taught at their own level with the fun of friends their own age and appropriate crafts, but I'm interested in what the article has to say about curriculum.
Does Answers in Genesis believe that kids should be in the main sanctuary instead of Sunday School being taught at their own level?
ReplyDeleteAnna you are a blessing! I so enjoyed watching you and Josh raising your family and I want to thank you for letting us be a part of your lives. God bless you!
ReplyDeleteIf only I could meet Anna,take her in my arms and hold her tight right now. When I looked at her face and into her eyes, I could clearly see the pain that she was in and knew exactly what she was feeling, right down to the last tear. When I looked into her face I saw me. Only someone that has experienced the gut wrenching, want to die, screaming pain that she's in would know what it feels like. I am one of them. When I found out what had happened, it felt like someone had kicked me in the stomach. Actually that would have hurt less. It happened in 1995 and it took all these years to rebuild the trust that had been destroyed when it happened and to let go of the hate and rage I had in me and heal. Like Anna it was my husband. Whenever I looked at him I thought he was the most vile, disgusting man on the planet. I wished that he would die every hour, every day, every week, every year. Where is he today? Stretched out on the couch preparing his lesson for church. The man on the couch is not the evil,dirty, vile man that he was. Today he is a loving, doting,tender, caring, sensitive, kind man. We've been married now for 32 years and look forward to being together for all time and eternity. Anna is just beginning this journey...oh how I wish I could hold her.
ReplyDeleteAnnette Deem