"Being absolutely present and engaged with each moment is generally the way to go. However, sometimes it's best for you and all concerned if you can take a step back from the intensity of the present. Ask yourself, 'How will I feel about this in 10 years?' Then channel your decade-older self and speak from his/her perspective. People might think you're crazy because you're laughing instead of furious, or casual instead of intense. But coming from that place will generate a more positive situation...."
--From Sign Language by Caeriel Crestin in Maui Time News
Earlier this year we had our kids' parent-teacher-conferences. They went well. Very well.
Our kids are bright, well-adjusted, and well-behaved (for the most part anyway :)
Walking home I felt proud of my kids. Proud of their accomplishments in school thus far. Proud to be their mom.
As I continued to reflect on these feelings of pride I found myself wondering....is this what life is all about?
Smart children. Good meetings. Proud parents.
Or is life about learning and growing and sometimes making a mess?
And I began to wonder....am I going to feel as proud of my kids when they are messing up as I do when they are doing well?
Am I going to feel proud the first time one of them fails a test, or sneaks out of the house, or gets his heart broken, knowing that they are learning as much - if not more - from these experiences as from doing well in school?
The conclusion I came to was: I hope so.
I hope I can remember to view their slips, missteps and failures with as much pride as I view their accomplishments and successes, knowing that BOTH are an integral part of this human life.
No comments:
Post a Comment