Perspective

If I had my child to raise all over again,
I'd build self-esteem first,
and the house later.

I'd finger-paint more,
and point the finger less.

I would do less correcting
and more connecting.

I'd take my eyes off my watch
and watch with my eyes.

I would care to know less
and know to care more.

I'd 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'd do more hugging
and less tugging.

I'd see the oak tree in the acorn more often.

I would be firm less often,
and affirm much more.

I'd model less about the love of power,
And more about the power of Love.

Author Unknown

Bad Hair Days

I am never satisfied.  I mean, never!  It is translated into every single area of my life.  Health, fitness, home, school and career.  No matter how good it gets, it's never enough.  It can always be better in my book.

As a mother I am my own worst critic.  How am I reacting to a particular situation or learning curve?  Have I been patient enough?  Does Kate exercise enough?  Were the meals healthy enough?  Did she talk enough?  Did I love enough?  I could write a thousand questions I ask myself on a daily basis.   I have so many hopes for my dear Kate.  I want her to be smart, accomplished, motivated, confident, loving and kind.  I've always believed that as parents it is our sole responsibility to provide the model of what we want our children to become.  If we want them to be kind, we must be kind.  Plainly speaking, if you can't do it yourself why should you expect them to?

I read a quote once that stuck with me - "Your children will become what you are, so be what you want them to be."  That, right there, defines why I am so hard on myself.  Am I being what I want Kate to be?  Did I do good today?  Sadly, there are days when the answer is simply "no."  But, tonight when I go to sleep, it will be with the knowledge that tomorrow is a new day.  A new opportunity to do better than today.  I can either rise to the challenge or I can sit and worry that I'll never be good enough.  See that is what I love about being a mother.  You can't sit and feel sorry for yourself.  You have to get up and get at 'em.  

No, I'll never be satisfied until I can comfortably say that I've done everything in my power to be better, live better and love better.  I know I'll never obtain perfection. What I do know?  A good hair day will always follow a bad one.