One or the other.
My brain doesn’t look for solutions when it’s freaking out.
It’s got to be the kind of gratitude you feel physically.
When you are afraid you won’t have enough money for your retirement…
When it feels like you could lose it all…
As a parent, I want to fix things when my kids are hurting.
I have to remind myself that I want them to go through hard times.
Even when things aren’t fair.
Especially when things aren’t fair.
It’s the times of challenge that breed confidence. You only create confidence by going through something difficult… going through the fire and getting to the other side.
It was that way when your child learned to walk. You didn’t watch him try to walk the first time and when he fell say,
“Well, I guess this one wasn’t a walker. We’ll just carry him the rest of his life so he doesn’t fall again.”
No, you clapped. You squealed. You took pictures.
There is room to be a cheerleader in all of life’s challenges.
You don’t need to squeal when they are teens. I have found a more “cool” way to cheerlead.
I try something like, “Wow. That situation really does suck. But you handled it really well.”
I know I can fix things for my kids.
But sometimes fixing is really breaking.
Bed head
Breakfast
Doing homework
Setting the table/getting dinner ready
Getting on the bus/in the car for school
Texting
Talking with different members of the family
Sports practice/events
Family games
Where they normally sprawl
Places they like to go
Driving
With their best friend(s)
Favorite food
Pet
Chores
Bedtime (if you are still awake)
Take photos of small things (zoom in) like:
Shoes/cleats with globs of soil/worn dance shoes
Clasped hands
Their room
Anything they are known for (a smile, a look, twirling hair, dirty socks, etc.)
This list is just a starting point. Have your camera handy, and shoot away!