A Mommy Lesson

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Happy Spring!! This time of year is why we all love Arizona.  Flowers, birds & butterflies.  I want to be outside. I also want to be realistic with limitations with my new mobile toddler.  I really took Sarah’s post and recommendations to heart when I loaded up three of my kids to enjoy the annual butterfly exhibit at the Desert Botanical Gardens.

I had realistic expectations.  It would feel hotter than it was, we couldn’t stay long with a baby and a special snack would go far.  With the freedom of appropriate expectations, I was ready for an afternoon of fun. Butterflies were flitting.  Children were in awe. Flowers were exotic.  It was a peaceful morning and I found myself truly delighting in my children.

What I saw afresh was their gentle hearts.  They were encouraging, patient and grateful.  I found myself staring at them thinking, “they are such neat kids.  I am so grateful to be their mom.”  I think things like that often. They are pretty amazing.  This time, though, I did something I usually don’t do.  We got in the car and I affirmed them.  I told them what I had noticed specifically and how proud I was of them.  They were beaming in the back seat and thanked me for my words.  It was a special, albeit humbling, moment.  I was surprised by their gratitude for my words.  As Mommies, we tend towards one particular way of communicating love to our kids.  We all use multiple ways, but usually favor one way.  I realized that afternoon, that my verbal love for them is not my way.  I need to be more intentional, though, to include it even if doesn’t come as naturally.  Not only will it bind my heart with my kids, it could bless one of my children that doesn’t process things the way I do.  It was a fantastic reminder and an energizing start to Spring.

If you brainstorm all the ways to show affection for your child, which is the way you are least likely to use on a daily basis?  Is it a way that might be meaningful to one or more of your children?  

If you didn’t know, you can visit the Desert Botanical Gardens for F R E E!! on the second Tuesday of the month.  You can also use a culture pass from the Scottsdale Public Libraries.  Then if you stay for a short time, you won’t feel bad.  🙂

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Cate Johnson
Cate Johnson has been married to her best friend, Sean, for 12 years. She is the mother to their daughters who came home through international adoption in 2008. They also have a son that came home through domestic adoption in March 2011. The baby is another son, who is biological. Cate is passionate about Jesus, photography, writing and adoption and attachment. She also loves coming alongside prospective adoptive parents as well as those struggling through transition and attachment. Cate blogs about all of these topics and more at Gathered From Afar and Attaching Hearts.

1 COMMENT

  1. Cate, I keep starting to leave a comment and then deleting it because I think I need to ponder your question more – if that isn’t the hallmark of a great, thought-provoking blog post, I don’t know what is! Thank you for making me think today. 🙂

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