If I had my child to raise all over again,
I’d finger-paint more and point the finger less
I would do less correcting and more connecting
I would take my eyes off my watch, and watch my eyes
I would care to know less and know to care more
I would take more hikes and fly more kites
I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play
I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars
I would do more hugging and less tugging
I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later
I would be firm less often, and affirm much more
I'd teach less about the love of power, and more about the power of love.
~Diane Leomans
In the poem she talks about raising her children and her relationship with her children. Isn’t it true of all relationships though? Try and reread it thinking of your husband or wife….brother or sister…it still applies: have more fun, play more, laugh more, point the finger less and build each other up. In a world with more and more distractions, it’s so important to remember to put the distractions down and engage, really connect with one another.
When reading the poem again, I thought over the past few weeks. A few weeks ago….I had tripped and fell in front of my daughter, when it occurred I realized the week before, I had tripped and fell almost flat on my face in front of both of my kids! I was a little embarrassed. I don’t ever remember falling in front of my kids before! Then I thought about it. The day I fell flat on my face in front of both my kids….we were walking on the beach and got into a game of tag. I was running so hard as one of the kids was chasing me – I didn’t want to get caught! Well I ran onto some deep wet sand without realizing it, my foot sank deep and I went down – almost flat on my face in the sand!
The next week I was running in the woods with my daughter. We were playing, spending time together and getting the boys for dinner as it was beginning to get dark. Well I tripped over a deep, strong root and I went flying….landing right on my butt! My daughter laughed and I was really surprised. Later at dinner, she told me a lot of the kids trip right where I did, right over that root. I laughed then too.
Putting things in perspective, I realized who cares if I fall down? I didn’t get hurt. I am out there laughing, playing with my kids, engaged and connected with them, having fun. I’ll fall down every week if I have too….it’s worth it. =)
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"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." - Marcel Proust
"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough."
-- Oprah Winfrey
