I wonder when we start being "to cool". Today while picking out Valentines for the girls classes, Paige was distraught because the Family Dollar's selection of Valentine's were not cool enough. So we had to go to a different store to find some that were cool enough. I wondered to myself, when does that start and does it ever really stop. Bailey didn't care and Paige did so I will assume the awareness comes somewhere between 6 and 9. What is going to come next? Dropping her off down the road so no one sees my uncool Minivan. Never kissing her in front of her friends. Her refusing to hold my hand in public. Well, although the Valentine thing was real, I don't believe Paige will ever do the others. She loves to be hugged and kissed by me, where ever we are. She still climbs in my lap and wants me to hold her. But I know even as adult there have been times when I felt the similar "to cool for school" feeling. You know you have all felt it. Maybe when Cherith says, "Hey everybody, let's swim in the river." Not everyone is doing the backstroke to the worship music. Or when I went to the gym for the first time, I didn't want to stick out like a sore thumb. I just pray my children will gain the ability to live out their lives and not be concerned what others think. Imagine how much easier their lives will be because they just didn't care. Because then know on the front end they are different and just be okay with it. That is my prayer for them. I also pray I can do the same. Not have to be so reserved or cool. I want to throw off the restraints. So what if Bryan rocks. So what if we twirl and dance with invisible dance partners. I believe God smiles at that kind of abandonment.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
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6 comments:
Obviously Millions there doesn't care what people think about him. His Mom must have been praying for him too.
I think "Millions" is a girl and that is so annoying! Should we tell her what she's really doing wrong? I don't think so, somehow I don't think she'll be back.
Anyway, about your post, Anna is 4 and John is 8. I can't figure either of them out to save my life. At the dollar store they had Maisy, which was fine with Anna. She likes Maisy. John on the other hand was insulted at the selection and when I offered that we make some at home, he jumped on it. So what we ended up with were hot pink cards with suckers stuck to them. I wrote Happy Valentines Day and he wrote the names. He even drew hearts on them. I thought he would think they looked girly, but he commented on how proud Mrs Sullivan was going to be that he made his own. I don't get him.
Here's where you both went wrong...you took your kids with you to pick out Valentines.
I went to the store, bought them myself, gave them to the kids and they said thank you. They probably didn't even know that there were other kinds. :)
Lydianna is developing preferences for some things but she was happy with the Valentines we brought her. I think it had to do with the fact that she wasn't at the store. I think teaching our kids to be confident even when they are the "different" ones is one of the most important things we have to do as we raise world-changing Christian kids. In one way, its great that Paige knew what she wanted and its okay that that the selection at FD didn't meet her expectation (we want our children to expect good things!) but then again we don't want them to want certain things just to meet the expectations of others. (But then who doesn't want their kids to be comfortable and confident at school?) Ahhhh, the struggle!! Honestly, I think all of this is one of the reasons I have been so back and forth about private school/public school/homeschool.
Pam, John was insulted?? I can so see it!
Fran, Kalista is the same way as Paige but in reverse. She has to get the most unique and out-there stuff. She doesn't like anyone having things that are the same as her. Maybe if we rub our girls together there will be a good mixture.
Kids are so funny...I thought by now Nick would be mortified if I kissed him or showed up at school (8th grade), but he still loves it and insisted I bring pizza on his B-day. Alex on the other hand did not want me touching him or saying his tuba playing was "cute" on the Jr High Campus (6th grade). Both surprises to me.
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