Hi!
Just look at that face!
That is the face of our grandbaby, Jake. He is now, officially, 6 years old.
Eyes that barely contain the mischief, giggles powerful enough to bring a smile to the saddest heart, and a sense of humour wicked enough to make you choke on your coffee.
It's impossible to look at this face and not have hope for the future.
We are continually bombarded with images and stories of people abusing power, perpetuating racist ideals, and generally being horrible to each other. It can be easy to lose sight of the fact that the majority of us just aren't built that way. We really aren't.
The Olympics, for instance, prove that we still have the capability to come together at least once every few years and play games. All of us. All sizes, shapes, cultures, colours, genders, and sexual orientations standing side by side, and toe to toe to do nothing more than compete for prizes.
We temporarily suspend the differences that create conflict, allowing ourselves to simply enjoy the incredible, athletic talents of our fellow humans.
To me, it begs the question as to why we aren't celebrating this part of humanity on a much more regular basis. It's the best of what and who we are, we should show it off more often.
************************************************************
I often receive messages and notes from young couples, parents, and aspiring dream chasers. they have questions about achieving dreams, balancing family and work, surviving parenthood, and the emotional, financial, and physical struggles that are attached to all of the above.
I can't speak from a place of formal education, as I have no letters trailing my name. I can only speak from an education gathered through living a life that, statistically at least, shouldn't exist.
Those that read these ramblings know our history. We married young, were parents younger, and had to fight to be together. Our fourth and youngest daughter was born a whopping 5 1/2 years into the relationship, just a touch before my 25th birthday.
Lately, a lot of the young folks I'm hearing from are just starting out, have one or two kids, and are struggling with the division of responsibilities both at home and when it comes to bringing home the bacon.
Here is what I've learned.
If you and your kids are getting three square meals a day, you have a secure and safe roof over your head, have heat, power, clean water and a phone, you're doing pretty well already. If not, somebody needs to get a job, or another job, whichever the case may be. If you can't find one, make one. As parents, it's up to you to make sure they have these, most simple basics of life. As long as it's this side of legal, there should be nothing you wouldn't be willing to do to make sure they have what they need, every single day. Everyone has skills and talents that people are willing to employ, find yours and capitalize on them.... Now
Household chores. The root of many an argument. Someone always feels like they do more than the other, and in all likelihood, that's probably true. If you are honest with yourself, you know which one you are in this scenario. If you are the slacker, step up. Period. Nobody likes cleaning toilets, doing dishes or scrubbing floors. You're a grown ass human who can't afford a personal maid, get over it. They're your kids too, do a load of laundry or two, I promise you won't die. Oh, and don't be afraid to get your kids to help, even little ones can do little things. Life skills are important things to learn. If your kid is old enough to have a cell phone, and is tech savvy enough to snapchat, instagram, and facebook every aspect of their life, they can run a washing machine, a vacuum cleaner, and are more than capable of finding their way around the kitchen with a mop. I promise.
If you are sitting on a dream, you don't have to toss it. It just means, for the moment, it may need to work alongside what you need to do now. Sometimes a dream permitted to linger becomes that much more full and rich for having been allowed to ripen on the vine.
As for the emotional and physical struggles that come with being the parents of young children, or children of any age, really, I will say this.
Emotionally, remain a couple. Have date nights. Even if it means falling asleep watching a movie, cuddling on the couch after the kids are in bed. It counts. Have them. They are necessary for your sanity...and your relationship.
As for the sleep deprivation of the newborn and toddler days, try to remember that this aversion to their beds and bedrooms only lasts a short while, in the grand scheme of things. Before you know it, you'll need to coax them from their rooms with the smell of pizza and the jingling of car keys. You'll also need a crane equipped with a foghorn to pry them out of bed. Oh, and the sleepless nights? Wait til they start driving.....lol
******************************************
Well, that about does it for now, time to go watch some more fabulous humans compete for prizes.....
**********************************************
For Fabulous Humans Everywhere..........
May you know that you are fabulous, exquisite, whatever the purpose of your wings.
May you see that they are made for distance, strong, to carry you through any storms life may bring.
May you know our colours, though different, are equally beautiful, they go much deeper than our skin.
May you understand some are shiny, bold and bright, a silent command for attention stemming from deep within.
May you see that some colours, although more subtle, run deep and quiet, with a stellar beauty of their own,
May you know they are gems of equal value, without the desire or need to always be shown.
May we learn to celebrate every colour, for, without the compliment and contrast of each one, we would live a monotone existence.
May we learn to celebrate every colour, each shade, every hue, treasuring each and every measure of brilliance.
*****************************************************
Until next time....
www.margyreidbooks.com
No comments:
Post a Comment