Hope for the Future

Every time I set dinner on the table, my kids always say, "Thanks for dinner, Mom!" All the time. Even if I buy dinner, or make scrambled eggs, or scrape together leftovers, someone always says, "Thanks for dinner, Mom," and the rest chime in and follow suit. And it's not a canned speech, it feels sincere when they say it. Each time I hear it, I am taken aback by their thoughtfulness and appreciation.

Lauren is going to middle school next year and she had sixth grade orientation. The eighth graders were there welcoming the new students and escorting them to where they needed to be. Lauren has been so worried about starting middle school and I could see her nerves peaking and her efforts to stifle her shy tendencies, especially because some of the eighth graders were Grace's friends. I so wanted to give her a hug and a kiss in that moment, to say I love you and you got this. But I held back because I didn't want to embarrass her and thought it is probably time to start giving her a little more space. When I went to pick her up, I told her how much I wanted to hug her when I was leaving. I asked her if she would've been embarrassed and she was a little confused and said, "No. I would've thought that was normal. We always do that." I think the heavens opened up and the angels started singing. She still wants hugs and kisses!!

Henry loves to tease his sisters, and I like to tell him that I can't wait to teach his children how to tease each other so he can experience the joy of teasing from a parenting perspective. The other day he replied by saying, "You're always saying how we should be empathetic, so I will have empathy for my kids and know how much fun they're having!" Wait. Stop. Rewind. You had me at, "You're always saying how we should be empathetic.." I do always say that!

And then it hit me. They are watching and listening. No one told my kids to say thank you for dinner, they do it because they see others around them living a life of gratitude. Lauren isn't embarrassed to be told she is loved because we love one another and we are always showing our love for each other. Even though Henry was joking at the time, he has witnessed empathy and compassion being lived out. They really are watching, and listening, and learning.

They see us. They hear us. And they get it. So soldier on fellow parents, nothing is in vain! Our day to day witness is powerful and it is shaping the next generation. Let's continue to teach our future kindness, love and acceptance. Compassion, gratitude and integrity. Let's create the change we want to see in the world, let's raise the world we want our children and their children to live in.

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Dear Grace

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