It occurred to me this past week that my children are a mite spoiled. I have subscribed to the notion that I want them to have fabulous experiences and wonderful childhood moments.
Unfortunately, this means I have created two children, (though wonderful in many ways) who are constantly wondering ‘what next?’. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t about spending a bunch of money…it is about parks and playgrounds, friends and picnics, coloring and painting, with some ‘bounce houses’ and the zoo thrown in.
But, I have found that there are few things that make my stomach turn more than realizing my kids have absorbed some amazing experience and are already begging to move to the next best thing.
Worse…hypothetically speaking, of course, is when you spend an entire weekend out of town – say at a lake house – on a boat – swimming in the lake – eating ice cream – sleeping in bunk beds – and yet, this amazing weekend disintegrates the second your oldest doesn’t get to stay up late for the 3rd night in a row.
So, my game plan has changed. I’m on a bit of a mission….and the kids know it. The goal: for Delaney and Cooper to understand GRATITUDE and RESPECT. I know, I know….not necessarily the easiest concepts for a 2 and 4 year old….but, I can lay the foundation at least.
We are starting with gratitude. In addition to nighttime prayers, both kids are asked 3 times throughout the day to name three things they are ‘grateful’ for. Today was the 8th day. Initially, I heard a lot of “Mommy and Daddy” when asked….and then I noticed Delaney would name whatever three things she could see, “cars, trees, Cooper” and Coop would stick to the traditional, “Mommy, Daddy, Delaney”. I even got a few eye-rolls. Yes, it made my blood boil.
But today was different. When I asked the question this morning, Delaney said, “school, my teacher and a beautiful day.” And Cooper said, “Soccer, balls and Daddy.”
All by themselves they named three things that they are actually ‘grateful’ for…three things that make them happy.
Kind of like winning the Mommy Lottery.
Leave a Reply