We're All Growing UP

On their last birthdays, my children turned 9 and 6. I've learned a lot along the way. Children have a great way of showing the adults in their lives, both their strengths and weaknesses. A big thing I've learned over the past 9 years, is that these people came to me as themselves. Completely. Nothing that I do or don't do can alter the path that they are on. My job as mom, is to help them be the best versions of themselves...teach them manners and belief in themselves and others. I think of it as clearing the path so that they can go forward as their true selves. 

I want Henry to always keep his innocent love and enthusiastic spirit. 

I want Harper's life to always be filled with imagination and music. 

Other things that I have learned as mom:

Kids will rarely like the same foods. There is rarely logic to their choices. I just keep offering up healthy choices and hoping they will surprise me. Chef Dad didn't touch a salad until age 20. There's hope.

I am not as patient as I wish. But I have learned to apologize for it. Every morning is a new morning. And even if I threaten that we will be late to school, these kids don't believe me. We've never been late.  

They will get their shoes on. They will find their library book. We will get to school on time. Chill. 

This is my family. These are our values. There have been times as a mom that I have had to stand up for what I hold to be true for my family. It's not always easy, but it is always satisfying. I like showing the kids that we stand together and that it's ok to go against the majority if you need to. Not everyone believes the same thing. It's ok.  It's what makes life interesting. 

Only buy white socks. 

Never read or sing or do anything to your children that you do not want to read or sing or do a thousand more times. I once sang Piano Man to Harper as lullaby. 8 months later, we are still singing it. Every night.  I guess "it's better than drinking alone."

Children are funny. I mean hilarious. Watch them. Listen to them. Laugh with them. This is a hard job. Finding the humor makes it worth it. 

What was right there the whole time

The other day, leaving the kids' school, I looked up and saw the paint peeling of the walls and some random water stains on the ceiling. The thing is, I'd never noticed these before, even though i go down that staircase every school day after dropping off my son. It stuck me as wonderful. Wonderful because I don't notice the faults in the school. The missing tiles, peeling paint, the stains and leaks, the faults. I don't notice these things, because what I do see when I'm there is the LIFE. The kids and teachers. The happy faces and hugging arms. All the high fives as I go down the hall. The laughter and running feet. I see my friends and their kids. I see my son's old teachers and his classmates from last year. I love their school. I love that we chose public. It gives me such a sense of community.

Everyday we make choices about how we perceive our world. I see the love and the life in that school and that is a great lesson to me to see the love and laughter in my family too. The little things add up. Sure my husband left his toothbrush out on the counter that I just cleaned...but he brought home dinner and told me that I looked nice when I was going out. This morning Harper dumped all of her clothes on the floor, but she came down dressed and ready for school. I can choose to see the good or the bad in the world around me, in those I love.

It's not always that easy...somedays I'm ready for 5:00 to come and a glass of wine. Or to finish snuggling and turn off the kids' lights. Somedays I just want quiet and to be untouched for a moment.

Then, in the quiet reflection, I can look back at the moment that Henry blew into the beautiful foam leaf on a stranger's awaiting latte... and laugh.