Lessons from my girls

I thought I would share some of the lessons that I am learning from my beautiful daughters :-)

• I taught the girls a little sing-song, "When I fall down, I get back up again." This is always SUNG, by the way! This is normally sung after falling down, which seems to happen a lot around here LOL. They are still so young and, as can be common with toddlers and even preschoolers, they used to get emotional pretty easily when they fell down. It seemed to be out of embarrassment many times, so I taught them this song -- I guess about 6 months ago -- and they sing it at least once a day without fail! Even when I think they should be hurt from the particular fall they took, they always pop up with a smile and sing "When I fall down, I get back up again."

What is this teaching me? The fact that they have totally embraced this song as a mantra, and the fact that I hear it on a daily basis, has me learning to apply this saying to my life as well. "Falling down" can mean so many things -- falling off the exercise bandwagon, the organization bandwagon, the spiritual bandwagon or anything else that is important to you and you set your mind to do. Most recently for me, it has definitely been the exercise bandwagon. I was obsessed this time last year and working out ALL the time. That was not a lifestyle I could maintain, and because of that I ended up stopping all together. I tried again at the beginning of the year and that lasted for a couple weeks... then I fell off again. I tried again a few months ago... then I fell off again. I have been "gearing up" to get back on the bandwagon for a month now -- gearing up yet not doing anything! This week, I am starting again. And this lovely song my girls sing to me has me realizing that it is OK. Because, "When I fall down, I get back up again." Even if I end up getting "back up" every week . . the point is, to get back up!

• Jordan has started to say the cutest thing! Whenever she gets hurt -- whether it is from "falling down" or if her and Cali get into a sibling squabble, or whatever it may be -- she looks at us, sometimes even with tears in her eyes, smiles and says, "Accidents happen. . . But I'm STILL Happy!"

What is this teaching me? Isn't it obvious? :-) We can CHOOSE to still be happy -- still experience JOY -- even in the midst of heartache, life troubles, hurts, disappointments, etc; What a powerful message! I pray that she continues to see life this way! I do want to make sure she knows it is OK to be sad sometimes and that she doesn't always have to be so "tough," and I really think she knows that. It is just her choice to still smile. . . and I LOVE THAT!

• Cali has also started to say the cutest thing! :-) Whenever she does something really good -- like help us when we haven't asked her to, answers a question correctly, throws a ball, whatever it may be -- she literally BEAMS and says, "I'm AWESOME!"

What is this teaching me? Again, I think it is pretty obvious! As long as this is kept in check -- which it is, because she only does it when she is expressing happiness with something she has done well, not in a "I am better than you way" -- it is such an AWESOME Mantra to have! How many of us have negative tapes in our heads, telling us: "You're not good enough," "You're not pretty enough," or "You're stupid?" I know I have many negative tapes myself and I can only imagine how different my self-concept would be and how many stupid actions I would have spared myself from (trying to gain approval from others) if I would have told myself and BELIEVED such a wonderful mental tape! Cali. . . You are AWESOME! :-)

So. . . What are your children teaching you?