Simple Abundance- A Transformative Year and Questions to Ask Yourself
‘New Year’s Day. A fresh start. A new chapter in life waiting to be written. New questions to be asked, embraced and loved. Answers to be discovered and then lived in the transformative year of delight and self-discovery. What if you knew that a year from today you could be living the most creative, joyous, and fulfilling life you could imagine? Become open to the changes that the answers will inevitably bring. Three hundred and sixty five starlit evenings; fifty two promising weeks; twelve transforming months full of beautiful possibilities; and four splendid seasons. A simply abundant year to be savored.’ – Sarah Ban Breathnach
I can not keep count of the times as a mother I am forced to explain to our older children, Garrett, who is ten, and Anthony, who is eight, how important change is and helping them cope with the difficult aspects that can come along with this.
From changing schools, to deciding which friends are your true friends, how to ignoring the criticism of fellow classmates, how to accept constructive opinions, and being the leader and making the choices that are right.
Every single day is a new day. Today you can do your best. Today you can make a difference. Today you can change your life for the better.
Each day when the boys get in the car after school, I always make it a point to ask them how their day was. I try my hardest to listen without interruption. Sometimes there are ‘card marks’ for behavior issues, sometimes there are mean teacher issues, sometimes one of my kids has hurt a fellow school mates feelings, sometimes they are criticised themselves. But there is always a lesson to take away from it and possible things they could have done differently. We talk about this.
And sometimes when they do not want to talk about their day, I have to change my approach and take my friend Jaymie’s advice and just start talking about my day. Soon enough they want to share their day with me as well. In part I am sure it is because I am boring, but at some point everyone really wants to share their day. Kids just want to see how badly you want to know. Just like it surprises us sometimes that they hunger for discipline.
Sometimes it is difficult to find that balance in supporting your child’s view on something, but also conveying the message that sometimes you are going to be told no, and you must be able to hear it and take it gracefully. Life is full of doors that close, you just have to figure out a way to open them, and keep them open.
I watch the changes as well. As these two bigger guys slowly morph from young little boys into the early stages of a young man. Garrett growing taller and very independent from Momma and Anthony learning more about the person that he is. Soon enough they will grow their wings to fly. Hopefully, well before they are thirty years old. 🙂
No matter the case, I always want my kids to know they have our support in being what they want to be, but ensuring they remember to always stay true to themselves. Their story will make them the men they will become as adults.
‘You only live once- but if you work it right, once is enough.’ -Joe E. Lewis