When Anne and I first met , our children were quite young. Our “babies” are all in their 20’s now!
In only a few years Anne had an unforgettable impact on my self-esteem. I can only imagine what a lifetime of parenting could do!
I’ve noticed Anne and I had many parenting principles in common, all but one – tip #8. It was Anne’s eighth tip that led me to the gate of reflection. Reading her recount of this special time brought a sadness to my heart.
Anne, “When you miss the mark, throw in the towel and make the most of the day.”
“I remember getting caught in a mindset of having to get myself and my girls to church every Sunday. Most times we made it.
I remember one particular Sunday, nothing went right. We overslept, the dog got sick all over the house. I felt overwhelmed and alone. We finally made it to the car.
I looked at myself in the mirror, checked the kids out in the backseat and realized very quickly – we weren’t going to get anything out of church that day. I went to a coffee shop, picked up coffee and hot chocolate and headed to a beautiful space outside of town where, we sat by the water, sipped our drinks and talked about what we were grateful for.
I’ll never forget that day. I can still feel the sun on my back, and see my two beautiful girls sitting beside me overjoyed that we weren’t sitting in church. If I have any regrets, I wish I had done that more often.” Tip #8
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As Anne stated, “When you miss the mark, make the most of your day.” I absolutely have some regret in this regard. I rarely put down formality in exchange for fun.
I so enjoyed her wonderful memory! Having her recall the scene, pulled me right into the moment. Capturing those meaningful times, what a gift! That’s a tip I wish I had found much sooner.
In Anne’s story, I was reminded of a special time with my own Mom. One evening, I was about 8, she and I went out for a “Poo-poo Platter” at a local Chinese restaurant. It was great! I felt like the most special girl in the world as we heated oriental cuisine over a small flame.
This was to be the only Mom-and-Me date we ever had. It remains one of my fondest childhood memories. Special times may seem hard to find, but they are impossible to forget!
In my own parenting, I regret not slowing my world down for more memorable moments. I didn’t realize how easily they could be created. To find the calmness in a storm was not an option I was aware I had. Admittedly, that awareness still escapes me.
Next week, it’s all about snuggles.