Protecting Our Kids
Germs. Predators. Accidents. Bullies. Stress. Heartbreak. Hallitosis. We worry that so many things will harm our children. I confess there’s a tiny piece of me hoping if I worry enough & give proper vitamins, I’ll earn extra cosmic insurance. Ludicrous, of course. It just kinda kills me I can’t protect them completely. Still, tough times happen to all, so getting through them with grace & dignity is critical. It changed my life to realize I'm the one who's supposed to teach them that part.
When it comes down to it, All I can truly control is myself, so the only thing I can truly protect them from is my poor example. By living each day mindfully (not on stressed autopilot) I’m
educating them to thrive in a world that rarely meets our expectations. So I strive to work on controlling my temper, being compassionate, thinking outside the box, staying positive, eating my veggies, making my bed & being polite. I fight the easy answer, sloppiness, the temptation to judge others quickly & smart off as best I can.
Tough times are going to happen to our kids. A dear friend taught me once we aren’t supposed to keep them from living life. She said we’re supposed to live zestfully & with integrity, not shirking from the hard stuff. Our kids' best protection is knowing how to handle adversity. Grace under fire is learned, y’all. Sure, I’ll still squirt the antibacterial stuff & teach them not to talk to strangers, but I’ll also take comfort knowing they're learning how to thrive & prosper, no matter what life hands them. I can live with that.