Today I have a bit of inspiration for you if you’d like to skim it. It comes from reflecting back on taking care of little people every day.
This list of ten are simple.
I believe deeply in them and they worked for me. BUT, that doesn’t mean it’s tried and true for everyone. 🙂 Don’t think I did it all perfectly and all the time. Far from it. Often I was grasping at it more than I was mastering it.
Here you go………………….
1. Tell them thank-you. Often.
2. Praise them. Tell them Good Job and what good helpers they are. You can see how big this makes them feel.
3. Have fun! Teach them to be fun-loving and love little things. Laugh!
4. Read a nap time and/or bedtime story. Fill your home with books. Board books for babies. Favorite books from your childhood. Newly released children’s books. Funny books. Inspirational books. Bible books. Audio books.
5. Tell them how glad you are God gave them to you.
6. Sing songs and listen to fun music.
7. Compliment them. Tell them about the things they are good at. Tell them they look pretty.
8. Fix them little treats. It doesn’t take much to turn everyday snacktime into something special for small people. I used to tuck my small people in to the chair watch Thomas or Boz along with a snack to munch. It only takes a few minutes to pull out cupcake liner papers to hold goldfish or teddy grahams.
9. Teach them that life is an adventure. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. A day at the park! Bicycle rides. Toting home a big stack of books from the library. Everyday life!
10. Say prayers. Teach them to love Jesus and to take their simplest little problems to Him.
Here’s the thing I’ve learned. These simple things are more about me than them in a lot of ways. When I cultivate these habits, it makes me kinder and gives the added benefit of blessing my kiddos and passing on these actions to them.
Did I always get it right or remember? Nope. Of course not!! But without a target to aim at, I had no chance at hitting the mark.
These aren’t things I necessarily verbalized when my kiddos were small. It’s been a learning process. I enjoyed reading books to myself and constantly learning or trying new things as the days rolled into years and figuring out what stuck and what didn’t work well for us. I’m sharing this list now on the off-chance that it will inspire another young mother in her important, important job of caring for and teaching her littles. 🙂
And I believe one of the keys really is finding what works for YOU and your unique family. I believe in drawing from wisdom and inspiration of others, but drawing a bit from here and a bit from there and swirling it all together so it shines as YOUR unique masterpiece.
I don’t think it ever works all that well to completely try to mimic someone else. That’s not how we’re created. We are unique and Jesus has a story and place for us all. For us as mothers. And for each of our children. He loves our kiddos more than we ever, ever can! I’m so glad!
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