Parenting 101

I was watching an add today and touched deeply. The title is: "Parenting:the Hearts of Our Youth, found on www.youtube.com" Now I need to act on it.

The add was on being a parent and how important our roll is. It is important that we are there for our children. By being there we need to put things aside and treat our children the way we would one of our colleagues or friends our age. Turn away from the television, the computer, a book we are reading or what ever may be distracting us from our children. Take the time to listen to them. By listening to them converse with them and let them know we are hearing what they are saying.

I have a habit of listening per sei, but forgetting what they are saying or not hearing what they are saying. It is quite often to easy for me to be engrossed with what ever I am doing to tune them out. Sometimes I find myself putting them off for a lesser activity. That cold come back to me one day, then how would I like that? Most likely not.

Another point that was made in the add was how important it is for us as parents to participate in their children's lives. When taking them to school turn off the radio and listen to their concerns, their dreams, and taking moments to share our thoughts and teach them. I found this interesting for myself because Sometimes the things I listen too aren't necessarily bad, but they are distracting me from the more important moment.

My children are only going to be little once. My step-children are only going to be here for a bit and then they will grow up and do their own thing.So the best time for me to develop a relationship with them would be right now. I think of all of these great things I can do for my family, scrap-booking, sewing, photography, so many good things that will be appreciated in the future right?

But really there are other things that will be even more appreciated today. A ready ear to listen, time out to play a family game, do a family activity, or a walk were we can ponder the days events with out the distractions of life.

If I wait until tomarrow I will have a lot of empty yesterdays. Today I will make the changes I need. Here goes.

This summer has been a crazy one! Either we have been on the road, or had people dropping in for extended periods of time. It has been great! I love when family stops through! Some of them I have not seen in years, and it is great getting re-acquainted.

Grandma, an Aunt, and two Cousins stopped in. It is exciting to hear how people are growing Where life's paths have and are taking them. It is especially fun to see each generations perspective in life and how just the day to day is affecting each of us. Many things have not changed, yet we are all grwing in our own little ways. Big ways too! Each of us are having different life lessons taught to us and when we discuss these lessons it seems to help others grow a well.

My Brother had been able to stop in and it was great! He had not seen one of the cousins since he was 11, we will admit we are now in our thirties. My brother is a great guy and it is great hearing others acknowledge this. He looks a little rough on the exterior, if he wasn't my brother I might not have taken the time to know that really he is just a big caring teddy bear. What a luck sister I am.

I am looking forward to seeing more of the family from both my husbands and my side in the next couple of weeks. My Hubby is a bit older than I so his family is through with the drama mostly, I enjoy talking about philosophy with them and hearing about the lessons they are learning and yet discovering. With my own family it is always fun to reminisce about the good ole days and share the lessons we are learning.

A Glimps with Purpous

Today I was running some errands. My precious little man always wants to go. "I go wiff you mom?" or dad, or to his big brothers, whomever may be heading to the door with keys in hand. It melts our hearts. So I invited him and big sister. Among my errands was a stop at a friends home. My husband and I had a hot date lined up for this weekend with them which we were going to need to change. I was dreading stopping and having to tell them for fear it may not work out for whatever reason.

My dear friend met me on the porch with some sad news. As she shared with me, my two little ones were running circles and jumping off the porch. They were laughing and giggling. She invited us in and they continued their little circus. They showed how they have learned to turn somersaults, jump high, and jump far. My little man explained how everyone is "taw!"(tall) and showed how his vocabulary is continuing to grow.

We had a pleasant visit. I enjoyed our visit, it turns out that next weekend will be just as great! My two little ones helped lift two lowly hearts. That is the purpose of little ones. To keep us young at heart, and help us lift or lighten some of the sad moments we have to experience. They are blessings, of that I am quite sure.