Apologies

Today, M did something to tick off B. 

She was flat out mean and rude (it happens from time to time for those who think she is always sweet as can be!) 

The time came for her to apologize. She went up to her brother and gave him a hug, a kiss and an apology. 

I was struck by one thing. 

There was M, the offender and B, the offended. 

B put everything to the side so he could pay attention to M apologizing to him. 

He listened intently and gave her a warm hug at the end.

I feel SO grateful to have these amazing little souls in my life. 

Souls who are teaching ME!

I needed to watch B so kind to M as she apologized so I can learn to be like him when I need to be the forgiver. 

What a blessing these little children are in my life!

Today

Not quite 2 minutes ago I was sitting here at my computer googling (Thank heavens for Google!!!) something to help me explain something to L for school. I will freely admit that I am learning as much as he is in school this year. 

After I am done what I needed to do, L comes up behind me, gives me a hug and says "I bet you needed that."

Oh my goodness. I think more than L needing to be homeschooled this year, I needed him to be homeschooled this year. Our relationship has not always been an easy one. He struggles with the fact that my responsibility is to be a parent first and not his friend. This year I have seen him grow into understanding what my responsibility is and respecting my responsibility. He sure is growing up into a fine young man. He is simply wonderful to be around. Now, if I could convince him to not scare me every time I turn around that would be lovely.

A Beautiful quote

I was reading a few links this morning and this came up on one of my links. All I could think was "This was the perfect timing for me to read this. I NEED THIS!" 

I always struggle with transition, even when it's something I want to be doing. Like being done work. I KNEW I was done work mentally, I just am trying to figure out how life should be now that I am home all the time. I know I will adjust, just am grateful for this reminder. 

"Do the best you can through these year, but whatever else you do, cherish that role that is so uniquely yours and for which heaven itself sends angels to watch over you and your little ones. Mother, we acknowledge and esteem your faith in every footstep. Please know that it is worth it then, now and forever."

_Jeffrey R. Holland

Interesting

I loved this! It inspired me to want to be a better mom! A WAY better homeschooler!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFF8dEFt7BI

Focus as a mother

I have been thinking what I want my focus to be this year as a mother. For quite a while I have been working on one of them without any certain plan. I knew that I wanted to have that as one of my goals to focus on but I knew that I wanted to add more to it. 

As I was thinking about it today as I was driving around, this is what I knew would be my focus this year with my children.

Responsibility

Respect

Right

The 3 R's of our home this year.

Responsibility is something that I want my children not just to have but to FEEL. I what them to know that they have a responsibility to this life that they have been blessed with. We all do and so many times when I am out and about and being observant, I notice that people are lacking responsibility. In my own home, I often see them not feeling like they should be responsible for things that they should be. I don't want posterity to feel like they have no responsibility in life. They do, we all DO whether we feel responsible or not.

Respect. I have pretty polite children, but they are not always respectful. Sometimes they are trying really hard to have their point of view understood that they do not listen to what is being discussed. Sometimes they really do not care and show respect to others. That worries me. I know that my time as a mother is limited. I only have so much time with them in my home. I know I cannot force respect on them, that is something that is learned. I pray that this year we can have opportunities to learn respect of others and self.

Right. This is kind of a tricky one but my kids are a bit older and I honestly feel that they can get this one. I want them to learn to choose the right. I mean, what mother does not. What I want and hope to teach them this year is to have a desire in themselves to do what is right. Not because they will feel guilty if they don't but because it is the right thing to do. Like when you are getting out of the car and bump someone else's vehicle and no one is around and you can clearly get away with it BUT you leave your information on the other person's vehicle because it is the RIGHT thing to do. I want what is right and true to be their moral compass. I want them to truly care about it. I think the tricky part is  realizing that because that is your moral compass does not mean that others will care as much as you do or make the same choice. I have to remind myself that while I have influence on those I come in contact with, I am the mother to 3 children. I firmly believe that this is my responsibility to teach them what is right. 

A few years ago when I was serving in Young Women's, our Bishop read this quote and I feel that for me, this is the quote I will use as my guide this year. I am so grateful for a Bishop who is wise.

"If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?"

John Wooden

I will never have this time back as a mom. I will never be able to do it over. I just want to do it right.

Resoloutions

I am not much of a resolution girl. I think it's because if I "fall off the bandwagon" I feel like a failure and have a hard time picking myself up from it. 

I was thinking about life and what I like about it and what I don't. The don'ts I would like to change. I mean, who doesn't? The thing is, I cannot necessarily change the don'ts. For lots of the don'ts, it's things that other people do to me that irritate me so really, I cannot change them. I can change my reaction, ways I deal with it, and that is my responsibility.

So this is what I am going to ADD to my life this year. Not resolve to do. Just feel like doing some simple addition. You know, things I should have been doing all along!

I am going to ADD patience. I know, I know, that is a call of being tested for patience. But as I was thinking about it, I want my children to be more patient. I want my husband to be more patient. If I want people to be more patient, I need to be a better example. I am the wife and mother of my home. These are responsibilities of mine. I need to embrace them.

I am going to ADD love. I am a pretty loving person. I love to be loved and I love to show love. I tell my kids 1 times a day "Do you know I love you?" As I was thinking about it though, I was wondering if I SHOWED them 100 times a day "Do you know I love you?" I know that sometimes definitions of love can be different. Like I can ask my kids to put their stuff away and they may not consider that love BUT it is. I love them enough to teach them to take care of their stuff and know how to clean. I know that in the long run, like when they are a parent themselves, they will understand that. Love for now, love for later on in life. 

I am going to ADD fun times. Oh man, am I ever! Now that I am not working, I feel free to be able to do what I have wanted to for years. Yesterday we went tobogganing. First time I went in 15 years. I broke my shoulder 15 years ago while I was tobogganing and have been terrified to do it ever since. I did it! And my kids went up and down that hill so many times! They were so happy! I loved that. I want to add moments where we just do fun things. Yes, there is a time and a place for work but there is a time and a place for fun! Really, I have less than 6 years until my oldest is ready for his mission. That time is coming quick! I am just going to love it and enjoy it. I want to create fun moments!

I am going to ADD family time. All too often, it is too easy to run here or there, hang with friends, be on the computer or devices. I want to be so busy having fun as a family that we are close. So that when we grow older and are out of the house, when one of our kids does something, the others want to go because that is what they are used to. I want my kids to learn to love and support their siblings. Don't get me wrong, they do now. I just want to add more moments like that so it is a natural thing.

Of course this one will be here too. I want to add more veggies and water to my life so there is no room for sugar. Sugar does a terrible number on my body. I had cut out almost all sugar and then Christmas came to town. I didn't eat nearly as much as I would normally but having taken away sugar and then adding in that little bit that I did have made me realize how big of a problem sugar is for my body. So between me adding veggies and water to my life, hopefully there will be no room for sugar.

What are YOU going to add to your life?