Looking Back; Looking Forward

As we start the New Year some of us may have taken time to review what our families have done this past year and/or start planning the activities for the coming year. ​

When you have little ones running around the house you are lucky to have a chance to review the last hour let alone the whole year!  It takes some planning just to have time to think! These little gems that are running around your house, and running your life, give you a new outlook on your life as well as the year to come.

• How much will they grow this year? 
• What will they learn? 
• What will I learn? 
• Where will we be next year?
• When will they learn to … ? 

• Did you have time to laugh with your child?
  
• Did you feel the awe of wonderment when your child experienced something for the first time?
  
• Were you amazed when they learned something new?
  
• Did you really enjoy a day in the life of your child? ​

There are lots of questions and a new year of adventures ahead of you. When you have a moment of quiet time, try to review what you did in 2016. Take time to reflect on what you did that you would like to do again and add that to the list of new things you would like to try this year. Some of the “things” you do with your family/child may be big things but a lot of the time the memories you keep with you are the ordinary things that make up everyday life.

Sometimes you need to get away and have some R&R so you have the energy to have a positive attitude about being a parent.  Give yourself permission to have time – just time for you.  Give yourself permission to pamper yourself.   If you take the time to recharge yourself then you have the opportunity to be the best for your child. Take a walk, go on a date, read a book (that does not have pictures and soft, fluffy animals or a truck, train, builder as a main character), have a cup of tea and finish a chapter without being interrupted. Then you will have the energy to enjoy all they have to share with you … a hug, a sticky-jelly-kiss, a worm, a laugh.

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In our family I treasure the laughter more than anything else. To hear children laughing brings such joy.  Even though Joel and Nick are grown they will always be my “children” so their laughter will always bring a smile to my face and warmth to my heart. As Curt and I walked by a playground the other day we were talking about the sound of children playing and laughing. What a wonderful sound that is. It is the sound of joy and wonderment.   Often it is the everyday memories that mean so much as your child grows up.  The day you sat on the porch in the sun and read a book, that early morning sleepy look as they tumble out of bed,  a smile just for you, the excitement of a making something all by themselves.  These little snapshots of everyday life with add up and become the history of their childhood.  You can hold onto these mental pictures of your little one as you watch them grow.  Sooner than you think (or want) they head off into the ‘big’ world -- grade school, high school and then off to college or their new job.  ​

Remember -- it is as important to take the pictures in your mind as it is with your camera because you can always look at the pictures in your mind.  ​