Sunday, December 7, 2008

What am i teaching my children?

Each second we live is a new and unique moment of the universe, a moment that will never be again. And what do we teach our children? We teach them that two and two make four, and that Paris is the capital of France. When will we also teach them what they are? We should say to each of them: Do you know what you are? You are a marvel. You are unique. In all the years that have passed, there has never been another child like you. Your legs, your arms, your clever fingers, the way you move. You may become a Shakespeare, a Michaelangelo, a Beethoven. You have the capacity for anything. Yes, you are a marvel. And when you grow up, can you then harm another who is, like you, a marvel? You must work, we must all work, to make the world worthy of its children.

-Pablo Casals



I read this quote today and was reminded of what I want to teach my children! I was reminded that in addition to correcting them and redirecting them from harming each other throughout the day, that I need to stop them as they scurry past me, gently hold them by the shoulders and look deep into their eyes. I need to smile at them in a way that allows them to see, through my eyes, how very much I treasure their very existence. I need to list the things that I love about them and remind them that they are meant to be blessings to this world and that they can do great and wonderful things in their lives. I need to kiss them on the tips of their noses and just say, "I love you." And, tell them about how I remember them growing inside of my tummy and how I prayed for them 50 times a day. And that the days that they were born remain as my favorite days in my whole life. They need to know these things. They need to believe these things in their little hearts.

Logan and Callen, your mama loves you.

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