02-17-2005, 07:54 AM
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#1 (permalink)
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004 |
Location: on the side of a hill in Lakeside |
Age: 62 |
Posts: 755 |
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Inspirational Moment for Today, 2-17-05~
“Do not fear opposition. Remember that a kite rises against, not with, the wind.” (Hamilton Mabie)
"Being Sad, Mad and Bad"
“Emily! Hurry! Let’s get you dressed and get your hair done! We need to get Spencer to the babysitter and the rest of us to the church!!!!” I waved a hairbrush to hurry my 4 year old daughter along. She stomped reluctantly towards me.
It was the morning of Grandpa Allen’s funeral. We had travelled across the country the day before to be with extended family. Although she had never really known Grandpa Allen and his death at 81 was not unexpected, there was clearly a lot more going on with my little girl.
“Honey, what’s wrong?” I asked.
“I’m sad and I’m Mad,” came her quick response. “And I’m being BAD ’cause I’m sad and mad.” Out of the mouths of babes ...
She quickly brought me up to speed on the unrealistic expectations the adults in the family had for her and her little brother that morning. And she was right. We did a quick U-turn on our plans for the children and all of us spent a marvelous and memorable day.
Important feelings are not dinner leftovers to be neglected until they spoil in the back of the refrigerator and then shoved down the kitchen disposal. Rather, feelings are friends (or our kids when they need us) knocking on the door to tell us something is happening,
When we can open that door, meet them face to face and have a genuine visit without Big Macs, fries and ice cream first, then we’re free to part company -- as peaceable friends.
This says a lot to me.... I remember when my son was little, I made so many mistakes  I thought the way to his heart was to hit Mickey D's, little did I know that I was only "building a foundation", for him AND me....
See, we adopted Jeffrey when he was 4 days old, and his birth Mom hadn't taken care of herself, so, he was very undernourished and, me trying SO hard for SO many years to have a baby, I wanted to do things "right" and make this very thin, very tiny baby well, and "feed him"!!  I did just that! I didn't know any better, and back in the 70's, they had me start him on cereal at 9 days old, I guess they thought he was starving too? I don't know. But, I just know now that I learned from my mistakes, and I try very hard now, to guide him, even though he's 29, I lead him gently to the healthier things in life, and maybe, Lord help me, maybe I'm not too late to plant better seeds.....
To you younger moms, plant better seeds than I did....learn from others mistakes, and don't come in the door with a "Big Mac, fries and ice cream", just come in with a smile and a hug, your kids will love you just as much! 
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