A little bit of love goes a long way, wouldn't you agree?! Yet I'm the first to admit it is hard to do so often! I'm trying to live and learn and figure life out like the rest of you. I have found with 5 kids in my care around the clock that love doesn't have to be a grand display for it to still impact the people around me in a big way. Sometimes, in fact, the littlest displays or acts oflove actually speak volumes!Sometimes love means I let them splash for a few more minutes in the tub and I don't worry about the water that is soaking me or the floor around me. Sometimes it means blowing kisses into the pockets of their jammies and telling them to save them for later when they want an extra kiss from me. Other times it's as simple as cutting the crusts off their peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. And then taking it even a step further- by using a heart-shaped cookie cutter.
Something so small and literally took mere seconds for me to do totally made the day better for 4 out of 5 of my kids. =) Our little picnic was planned for the deck just off our kitchen. But one of the kids spotted a bee out there and after last summer's bee fiasco, the picnic got moved to the edge of the garage. How quaint, huh?! I sort of felt like insisting that they get over their fear of bees and have their picnic where I wanted it, but then as I looked at their plated heart sandwiches I just felt like that would sort of take away from the love I had just put into their lunch. So I let them set up lunch in the "grunge" of the garage and look at them... their all smiles, like it's the finest picnic ever!
It's true. A little love goes a long way. I'm working on not making it so hard all the time. It's not always easy to go that extra step, but it sure has great reward.
5 comments:
I know exactly what you mean about that extra step not being easy. Most of the time, we have a notion of how we want things done. I know I've sometimes insisted on what I want a lot of times to the disappointment of my kids. A little bit of love won't hurt at all. Thanks for the reminder! :D
What a sweet post! thanks, jody!!!
You seem like such the perfect mom!
I tried so hard to go that extra mile with mine, and at 15 and 19 right now I'm not sure if they appreciated it all.
I guess time will tell.
I did those PB@J sandwiches for mine and now do them for my 2 nieces and they just squeal with delight.
Seriously, sooo precious!!! And perfect example of how the little thigns can mean so much :)
Dear Tonya~
I'm so NOT the perfect mom that I have to make heart-shaped sandwiches at times to make up for all the other times I mess things up!
=)
Thanks for thinking so highly of me, but I had to respond and let you know that I fail. All the time. But I do know I am still learning and trying to do better and get it right more than wrong on any given day. Parenting is hard. Parenting 5 and always missing one is extra hard. I'm glad I own cookie cutters that make me look good once in awhile. =) Thanks for your comment. I know the teen years are going to be a whole new level of fun! And learning!!
Best to you and your family.
Hello to all the rest of you who comment too.
Love ya!
Post a Comment