August 3, 2009
Kids are the best.
I have spent the greater part of my adulthood raising my kids. Teaching them, nurturing them, advising them… Yet it is always surprising when they turn around and teach me a lesson back. So this morning I thought I’d share one of these moments while the cherubs are all still asleep and I enjoy my morning coffee.
We had a family meeting this weekend as the last month of summer arrived and thoughts of back to school supplies and new teachers swirled in our heads. It has been an especially fun summer with lots of friends and beach time and the baby starting to walk. So we wanted to regroup and refocus. During our meeting, we spoke about goals for the next year…specifically what we wanted to accomplish.
When it came time to share our individual goals, I specifically chose ones that were family friendly and things I thought the kids could relate to (you know, eat more carrots and less chocolate, more exercise…)
Then my 7 year old daughter looked at me with her big brown eyes and said, “Mom! How about finishing your book? That should be your goal!”
Duh, right? I had been thinking that my writing life was simply that: MY writing life. But when I stop and think about it, my writing is a huge part of their life too. It is the “other” part of me that compliments the mommy and caregiver part to make me a whole and fulfilled person. And, yes, finishing my book IS my goal, I just didn’t think my children would see that. So no more procrastination, no more whining over how tedious this editing is becoming. Back to work!
How pleasantly surprised I am to learn that in my children’s eyes, I already am what I have always wanted to be: A WRITER.