For My Kids When They Are Older
There are so many times I wish I could explain situations to my kids but I know they don’t yet have the tools necessary to understand. So here it is. This is what I want my kids to know when they are older and I hope they will understand.
My four precious, amazing kids, I hope you know that you are the biggest blessings of my life. Your father and I love you unconditionally and always will. Our home is full of love and laughter. We play loud music and dance. We watch movies. We eat at the table together. Not every moment is perfect like this.
We yell at one another. We disagree and argue. We get angry. It is human nature to experience all these emotions. I’m truly sorry if in any of these moments, I ever made you feel as if you were not loved or cherished. I hope you know that our emotions and responses to situations are always our own responsibility and not anyone else’s. You were never the cause of my anger or unhappiness. These emotions were my own to work through.
I hope you know that in your own life, it is okay to experience all of the emotions that humans encounter. Feel these emotions, work through them in a healthy way and move on. Happiness is not a feeling that someone or something brings us. Happiness and joy are emotions we create for ourselves. We have to recognize happiness and allow it into our lives. We have to recognize all of our blessings and live in gratitude. It doesn’t just happen. Happy and grateful people have created happiness and gratefulness in their lives. Whatever you focus on becomes your reality. Your perception is everything. I haven’t always known this. Forgive me for the moments that I did not use this advice.
I hope you choose happiness and live in gratitude. I hope you don’t let expectations of how you think your life should look diminish all the beauty and blessings you already enjoy. I hope you know you are loved beyond measure.
Image by Antonio Doumas from Pixabay