Yesterday, I had a discussion about living in the moment. Like yoga, like reading cards, it is a practice, and only by living this way can we put the walk to the talk.
When our kids are young we are preparing them for the future, we are preparing ourselves for the future, and at the same time we are living in that exact moment. I bet every single parent has more than one indelible picture stored in their brain that stands out to them as "a moment."
I can remember my mother telling me to enjoy my kids when they were young because it is so fleeting. I can recall my response, rather snarky, because, I am certain I was tired, "I can't enjoy it; I am living it." This is not to say there weren't beautiful, amazing, precious, exhausting, gut-wrenching, REALLY??!! times with them, because there are thousands, but the everyday stuff got lost in the every day stuff.
I am always so awestruck by scrapbooks, pictures neatly filed, and baby books. I taught people HOW to create gorgeous scrapbook pages so the irony of this isn't lost on me. If I had every post I ever wrote on the AOL Boards I participated in, I would have a chronological baby book to beat all books; I started when I was pregnant with Peter and up to when he was probably four and Bella was three. There is rich, rich material out there in cyberland. Instead, I look at the pictures and think, "Where DID the time go?"
My kids don't have baby books. The pictures are in boxes in quasi year order. They each have a giant bin of stuff they created from day care until probably 5th grade and then it got ridiculous. I have every years school pictures, none of which were ever hung. So, the memories are here, but, I like to think because I was living in the moment with them, that they too have a slide-show of life events they can pull from the eaves of their brains when they want to smile. Thankfully, Bella has a crazy memory and can remember everything. Peter is pretty good. At any event where Jane is at, there is guaranteed to be terrific pictures.
Me? I watch, I participate and my heart remembers.
Here's to NOW. Here's to living in the moment. Here's to all of us, doing the best we can, each and every day. xo
When our kids are young we are preparing them for the future, we are preparing ourselves for the future, and at the same time we are living in that exact moment. I bet every single parent has more than one indelible picture stored in their brain that stands out to them as "a moment."
I can remember my mother telling me to enjoy my kids when they were young because it is so fleeting. I can recall my response, rather snarky, because, I am certain I was tired, "I can't enjoy it; I am living it." This is not to say there weren't beautiful, amazing, precious, exhausting, gut-wrenching, REALLY??!! times with them, because there are thousands, but the everyday stuff got lost in the every day stuff.
I am always so awestruck by scrapbooks, pictures neatly filed, and baby books. I taught people HOW to create gorgeous scrapbook pages so the irony of this isn't lost on me. If I had every post I ever wrote on the AOL Boards I participated in, I would have a chronological baby book to beat all books; I started when I was pregnant with Peter and up to when he was probably four and Bella was three. There is rich, rich material out there in cyberland. Instead, I look at the pictures and think, "Where DID the time go?"
My kids don't have baby books. The pictures are in boxes in quasi year order. They each have a giant bin of stuff they created from day care until probably 5th grade and then it got ridiculous. I have every years school pictures, none of which were ever hung. So, the memories are here, but, I like to think because I was living in the moment with them, that they too have a slide-show of life events they can pull from the eaves of their brains when they want to smile. Thankfully, Bella has a crazy memory and can remember everything. Peter is pretty good. At any event where Jane is at, there is guaranteed to be terrific pictures.
Me? I watch, I participate and my heart remembers.
Here's to NOW. Here's to living in the moment. Here's to all of us, doing the best we can, each and every day. xo
My best friend gave me the best advice
He said each day's a gift and not a given right
Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind
And try to take the path less traveled by
That first step you take is the longest stride
http://youtu.be/lrXIQQ8PeRs
He said each day's a gift and not a given right
Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind
And try to take the path less traveled by
That first step you take is the longest stride
http://youtu.be/lrXIQQ8PeRs
