~Pamela Susan~: I'm Glad to Be Me { and some thoughts on parenting }

Yesterday Miss A arrived home with her first school assignment... to fill a small lunch size bag with three objects that describes a little bit about herself. There were all sorts of things suggested for the students to bring... something they made, a souvenir from a place they visited this summer, a favorite item, a talent they have, a free-time activity, something they do well or would like to improve on.

She chose the following...

1. Her favorite stuffed animal, Marshmallow. And take a look at that tutu and hankerchief! She made them out of cupcake liners! Oh, how I love her creative mind. And that bouquet is pretty cute, too. I think this first pick kills two birds with one stone... something creative and a favorite item. :)

2. Miss A loves to draw, particularly owls. Here's one that we're going to use for a collage this weekend. I love how she glued glitter on the wings. Pretty good, don't ya think?? That expression just kills me!

3. The third thing she chose was a souvenir we purchased at the Boston Public Garden last week while visiting there. You must know that one of our all time favorite children's book is Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey. This wonderful book takes place in the Boston Public Garden, so it was an extra special treat visiting there! (And of course I have pictures of our trip there with my sister and her family... can't wait to edit the photos!) Anyways, I thought it would be fun to frame this little card and put it in there room, so I had to buy it. Apparently Miss A likes it as much as I do. :)

I love these three items, but I also love the little poem pasted on the outside of the bag she'll be storing them in for the next couple days...

These are words every little youngster should hear about themselves. Heck, we all should! I liked it so much I created a printout to tape on their bathroom mirror so my girls can see read it every day.

Here it is...

{ Click Download I'm-Glad-To-Be-Me for a copy of this poem}

Let's all sit down with our wee ones and read it to them in effort to help infuse their world with positive messages about themselves. After all, helping them learn high self-esteem and confidence is one of the biggest responsibilities we have as parents, isn't it? (And of course there's so much more than just reading a poem in helping them achieve this, but I'm always up for a visual reminder that we have multiple opportunities throughout the day to help them realize how precious, important, and special they are!)

I know a lot of parents read this blog... any thoughts on this? Do you ever feel it is helpful to have a visual reminder to help you realize the important responsibility we have in raising our children with love and respect, that these little growing humans need all the encouragement they can get in achieving high self-esteem and self-worth? I mean, when I stop and think about it, there are countless interactions throughout the day where I have opportunities to treat my daughters with the respect they deserve (even when it's difficult to!) and realizing how we choose to respond to the seemingly insignificant interactions will and does impact them in how they ultimately view themselves.

And to be perfectly honest, I think it can be extremely difficult to consistently respond to frustrating circumstances in the most positive way. There's not a day that goes by that I don't pray to my Heavenly Father for patience in dealing with my kiddos. Because as wonderful as they are, parenting is hard. It is challenging... especially when I have to repeat myself again, and again, and again, and again. At times it tests my sanity! But this past year, as I've tried slowing things down in my life, as I've tried focusing on my children fully, I feel I have become a better parent... not perfect, but better.

Anyways, sorry for being all over the place today. Just a few thoughts that have been on my mind lately.

xo,

Pamela

Comments

WHAT A SWEET POST! I LOVE Miss A's treasures! She's a GOOD LITTLE ARTIST! :) LOVE her little Marshmallow's outfit! :) And the little picture too!
Parenting IS HARD! It's hard to strike a balance in parenting---you don't want their heads so filled with how WONDERFUL they are that they are FULL OF THEMSELVES EITHER! BUT, EVERY CHILD & person needs to know they are SPECIAL in their parents eyes & in their Heavenly Fathers eyes too! Alot of that Specialness comes across in the way we treat them, looking out for them, what we stand up for or against! They're ALWAYS WATCHING US!!!!!!!!!!! :) Yes, & occassionally, we fail! We have to be BIG ENOUGH to show them how to say, "I'm sorry" too! They learn that from us too! :)

Posted by: Becky Green | September 06, 2012 at 06:21 PM