Our school principal sent this in this week’s newsletter. I think it’s magic.
“I want to take this opportunity to remind us all, that to our own children, we are their role models and heroes. They look to us for guidance, support, encouragement and love. Children are always learning from the adults around them as the following poem so eloquently states:”
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator and I immediately wanted to paint another one.
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you feed a stray cat and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals.
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other.
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don’t.
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it and I learned we have to take care of what we are given.
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn’t feel good and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it’s all right to cry.
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be.
When you thought I wasn’t looking, I learned most of life’s lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn’t looking I looked at you and wanted to say, ‘Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn’t looking.
You are your children’s most precious gift!
Wishing you and your children a beautiful day.
Today is my baby’s 5th birthday party– how the time is flying. **Sniff sniff**
xoxEDxox
I loved this. It’s all very true. Our children are constantly watching us and learning from us. Happy birthday to your son.
A good read. Thank you for this important reminder.
This made me cry. Just beautiful and so true.
I loved reading today’s blog. It is a beautiful poem. I don’t know how this relates, just feel like sharing it on your blog. When my son wasn’t looking, I was crying for him today. Let me explain. He is a 9th grader and kids can be so thoughtless and mean sometimes. A group of kids at his school had a surprise birthday party for my son’s best friend last weekend. Funny thing though, they forgot to invite my son to the party. My son was so hurt. He had even purchased a gift for his friend. It is hard to know what to say to him. It is a hard lesson for him to learn. He did nothing wrong to this group of kids, but he is the one who ended up getting hurt. He is in band and his best friend is on the football team. I think that was part of the problem… why he did not make the guest list, he is not an athlete. So I am asking all of you Moms out there… how do I help console my son? He is not upset with his best friend, just disappointed with the party organizers. BTW, this is not my first child to experience such a disappointment. He is my middle child. It never gets any easier watching your kids get hurt:( But to Erica, I wish your five-year-old on his birthday 100 years of nice friends who considerate, caring and kind to him:)
Carolyn, thank you for your comment. A child left out is heartbreaking and devastating. I’d love to know what the rest of my community thinks about this, as per your request. How does Carolyn help console her son?
Carolyn…it sounds like your boy is a sensitive one, I have two senstitive boys and I always hear about the “bad” stuff that happens to them….on a daily basis…it does get exhausting but I am ALWAYS there to listen. Sometimes just listening – without saying anything – without responding – other than assurances like “man that must not have felt very good” etc. Validating the feelings and the emotions behind those feelings are the best gift I think we can give our children. It’s a never ending job and it is gut wrenching when they are exposed to life’s harsh lessons such as being excluded. I’m afraid no one can tell you this won’t happen again, you know that, but you can just be there for him, you can’t fix what happened…it is what it is but you can just be there for him…Best of luck @boysneedtofeel
Thanks Erica and Julie for your replies. I think I am the sensitive one. I am very hurt for my son, too. As much as we try to raise our kids to be wiser and better prepared to handle life’s disappointments, they often become just like us and react to situations in kind. You are right, I cannot fix what happened. I have to just listen to him and be there for him. Good advice, Julie. Thanks Ladies!
So beautiful.This is a great reminder that actions do speak louder than words.
And when they are not watching…they are listening. Thanks for sharing. To Carolyn, your strength is his
strength. Like Brooke Menoni says in her article, we have no control over the events of our lives, but we do control how we respond to them. Life is a path full of obstacles, overcoming them will only makes us stronger. Feelings of rejection come from within us, a way to toss them out is to be realistic, think about it, his best friend friend’s forgot, that can happen! And even if they consciously did not to invite him to make it a close event, why waste precious energy on people that are not part of his day to day life. Your nonchalant attitude is the best medicine. If he perceives that you too feel hurt, you will just be fueling his disappointment. Friendship between males is a “no hurt feelings man” and a slap on the backside as a general rule. I have 2 boys (29, 26) and girl (23). Boys can have a brawl, a fist fight with their best buddy and the next day they are ridding bicycles together. Your son is more in tune with his emotions than most kids his age, he has an artistic soul, I guess that’s why he is in a band. Artistic people take longer to calibrate emotions to protect themselves. Go to your library and look for self help books about raising boys…I did. Best to all.