I got home from work tonight and peeked into Little’s room to watch her sleep. As I watched her back rise and fall with each breath, and her sweet sigh as she shifted around, I was overcome by how wonderfully blessed I am to be her mom. I know that almost every mother feels blessed to be a mom, but I don’t think most moms get to have a kid as delightful as mine. She is such an absolute joy. She has been a very easy child to parent. From nursing to sleeping through the night to developmental milestones. She has given us no worries. I know things won’t always be this easy. She will present us with myriad challenges over the years. Tonight I sat down and put down in writing the things I want to keep in mind as I raise my sweet girl. Here are the 15 things I want to remember as her mother (in no particular order):
- Tell her you love her every day of her life.
- Help her find a way to achieve her goals. Don’t downplay them.
- Help/Allow her to figure out how to do things for herself.
- Give her room to grow and develop.
- Challenge her to keep an open mind.
- Teach her to respect other people and not live in judgment.
- Live in the moment with her every day.
- Be silly with her. Sing with her. Tickle her.
- Make our home a home, and don’t move around too much. Give her consistency.
- Teach her to enjoy pretty things without being materialistic and/or dependent on them.
- Get on her level and play with her while she is a kid.
- Maintain a strong and loving marriage.
- Maintain a strong and healthy sense of self. Be her role model.
- Keep a journal, keep keepsakes, take pictures and videos and create family traditions.
- Show her the world.