What I've learned...

Well, this is very unlike me but I am in the mood to write... hmmm, I hate writing but lately it has been somewhat relaxing to me and today I feel the need to write and since I don't have much news on the home front, I decided to do something different. Today I am going to write on lessons I have learned from my children. I thought about this last night and considering all that our family has been through this year, I am amazed at how much of a strength my children are to me. Their innocence and their love is perfect and I really do have much to learn from them.


Lesson #1: Every day is a new day... This one is the most important lesson because it deals with forgiveness and moving on. Kate and her little friend got in a fight a couple days ago and Kate came home in tears saying she had no friends and her best friend hates her. I sat with her on the couch trying to console my heartbroken child and within 5 minutes the door bell rang - it was her friend. Kate smiled and ran and gave her friend a hug and said sorry and off they went to play. That is amazing to me and quite the example. Children are so able to forgive and forget and most importantly they don't hold grudges. We all could learn from this example... life is too short to be burdened with anger. Everyone makes mistakes - we just need to learn to let it go.


Lesson #2: If you fall, you can cry for a bit, but than you get up and brush yourself off and move on... Kate is such my accident child - she is the only one of my kids who has had stiches and she has had them three times! However, she is the bravest kid I have ever seen... she cries went it happens but she realizes that there is not much she can do and she faces stitches with a brave face and no tears. She does not let it ruin her day... what a cool kid! I love this... It doesn't matter what happens in life as long as we are able to pick ourselves up and move on we are doing ok.


Lesson #3: Looks don't really matter... Kids have the ability to accept people for who they are. My kids will play with anyone - they don't care where they are from or what they look like. They are just happy to be with them.


Lesson #4: Happiness is found in the little things... We got a new washer and dryer a couple of weeks agod and gave the boxes to my children to play with. They had so much fun!! They built forts and boats and hideouts... hours of happiness from a piece of cardboard. As adults, we often forget this. We get so caught up in keeping up with the Jones' so to speak and forget that the little things in life can really make a difference.


Lesson #5: Don't take life too seriously... My Thomas is great with this one. I have never seen anyone let things slide off his back as easily as this kid. To him life is all fun and games... He does understand that there needs to be a serious side but he also knows that he is happiest when he is being goofy and just having fun.


Lesson #6: If you don't know just ask... Kids are full of questions because they are not afraid to just ask. Mattie is my question child - she always asks "why" and wont back down until you give her an answer. Life is so curious to her that she wants to know everything. I love that! How much easier would life be if we would just ask and not always assume we already have the answers.


Lesson #7: Smile!!... When Ella smiles at me, I can't help but smile! Somehow a smile for a friend or from a friend can turn your day around. It makes you feel that someone really cares and really trully loves you.


There you go... my life lessons from my children. I know there are many more but these ones have made a real impact on me over the last year. Life is not easy but it is definitely worth it and how grateful I am to my little ones who show me this everyday!