"Little things are the hinges of the universe." - Fanny Fern
A lollipop. A dandelion in bloom. A balloon. A swing.
If you've ever spent time around young children, you know that such simple things can provoke squeals, smiles, and intense joy. The flip side is that seemingly small things, like waiting for a turn or a skinned knee, can elicit more drama than an entire soap opera.
I realized that what I strive for everyday and one of my biggest parenting goals revolve around these little details. One of the things I love about teaching is being around the wonder, awe, and jubilance that accompany childhood. I work at maintaining those qualities in my own life. I allow myself to be grateful for and even rejoice in the small good things in any normal day- losing myself in a book, learning something new, the smell of cookies baking, luminous cotton candy clouds, a bite of dark chocolate.
The challenge is, letting daily irritations roll off like water down a duck's back. Traffic, a car that won't start, an unexpected bill, a broken glass, or any of the numerous complications that pop up, needn't get my panties in a wad. If I can deal with each one as it comes and even laugh at them, then I will have succeeded.
And to take things one step further, I need to forgive myself when I fail. No one can be sunny every minute. I hope that if I lead by example. my girls will pick it up. These are the skills that can make the difference between living and existing.
So I won't grow up. Ever. I will continue to mature and I will make the bad hinges like a revolving door that I pass quickly through and the good hinges will open the door to a palace.
Comments