My Children Will Do it Differently - If you could choose one thing that your children will do or experience in a different way than you have, what would it be and why?
A couple days ago, some minor mishap took place: I can’t even recall what the mishap was though I do remember my daughter Emma’s response:
“It’s fine. Believe me, there are worse things that have happened in the world.”
I turned my head slightly and continued along my way, side-by-side with my middle daughter.
Did I mention she is fourteen-years-old?
I tell you this because if I ever thought the words I say didn’t have an impact or if I ever thought she wasn’t listening, this calm demeanor reminds me she is listening and I am, in fact, loving my children into being phenomenal human beings.
I have been actively mothering (my own offspring and one foster daughter) for the past 21+ years.
What I have consistently attempted to imbue in my children’s bloodstream, breath and their vocabulary is that each of them experience unconditional love from me AND they know, each and every day that no matter what they do, “It will be fine because I know Mommy still loves me no matter what.”
I wasn’t so sure of that when I was a child. Hell, I am not so sure of that NOW. You may insert any name in the place of “Mommy” except more and more, I believe my children will love me no matter what.
Another bittersweet Emma-ism is yesterday, when she was talking to a counselor. Emma was lamenting “I am so sick of everyone using Psychology 101 on me – breathe deeply when you are stressed, put a penny in a jar every time you are proud of yourself – I know all that stuff and them saying it all the time doesn’t help me!”
The counselor looked over at me in an apologetic way, “You mean your Mom?”
Emma shouted, “NO! I mean all the ‘professionals’!”
I said, quietly, “Emma needs to be heard. She doesn’t feel like she is listened to, she feels like she is offered prescriptions without getting to the heart of who she is,” and then I excused myself so they could work privately without my presence.
That felt SOOOOO good! Emma came out happy, smiling, and remained so throughout the day.
She knows her Mommy loves her and always, ALWAYS, has her back… and her heart, spirit, toes and eyebrows in her heart.
Pretty great experience, to know this in every step she or her siblings take.
I am Julie Jordan Scott ~ and this is one of my Reverb11 posts. This year, the Reverb Community is taking an individualized approach to this life changing initiative. I am answering several prompts a day in short snippets during either a 30 minute or 60 minute wordsprint. I look forward to reading other Reverb11ers writing & if you are unfamiliar, just use the prompt and use the #reverb11 hashtag on twitter. You'll have a blast!
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© 2011
Julie Jordan Scott
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