Saturday, November 13, 2010

Loving the Ordinary

Ashton Love
There is no way to be a perfect mother, and a million ways to be a good one." - Jill Churchill

As many mothers know, caring for a newborn is one of the greatest joys in the world.  Nothing else can compare to the amount of love and connection that I feel to this little guy.  It's also tiring and hard work, and finding time for anything other than taking care of the immediate needs is darn near impossible.

The lack of sleep and the amount of details that come with taking care of two children has pretty much made my short-term memory nonexistent.  Today, as I once again lost my train of thought mid-sentence, I caught myself saying out loud, "I feel like my brain is split in so many directions."  Kestan chimed in, "What's wrong with your brain mommy?"

Well, child, nothing is wrong with my brain.  In fact, maybe forgetting everything but the essentials is exactly what I need to be doing right now.  Because when I forget and let go of all those meddling thoughts running through my mind, all I have to fall back on is the present moment, right?

So, this moment has given me a quiet house (which won't last long) and a little time to share with you a new parenting resource that stepped into my life.

I discovered this beautiful, thought-provoking, compassionate blog called Essential Parenting.  I love it.  In the most recent posting, Chris White quotes author William Martin, "Do not ask your children to strive for extraordinary lives.  Such striving may seem admirable, but it is a way of foolishness.  Help them instead to find wonder and marvel of an ordinary life.  Show them the joy of tasting tomatoes, apples and pears.  Show them how to cry when pets and people die.  Show them the infinite pleasure in the touch of a hand.  And make the ordinary come alive for them.  The extraordinary will take care of itself." -The Parent's Tao Te Ching

Isn't that just lovely?  And isn't that a great reminder for all of us - regardless if we have children or not?  Can you imagine the amount of compassion we could show ourselves if we didn't always strive to be extraordinary?  Can you imagine slowing down enough to really SEE and FEEL the beauty in all the ordinary things in YOU and in your life?  Can you imagine if you truly believed YOU were enough - exactly how and where you are in this moment?  What a beautiful concept if we all could slow down, and simply see the blessings in the ordinary, every day moments.

Us
As I embrace this wonderful journey of motherhood that I'm traveling on, I'm choosing to celebrate the little moments.  Like the way Ashton gazes into my eyes, and how much I love the sound of Kestan's sweet voice, and what a gift it is to stay in bed a good part of the morning with all of my boys as we snuggle, laugh and love each other.

It's these moments - the ordinary ones - that I'm learning is what living is all about.

Your Personal Reflection:  Every day, ordinary life is full of simple gifts - right here, right NOW - in this moment.  Can you practice embracing these little treasures in your day, in yourself, and in your children, and feel the awareness, the beauty, and the wisdom that comes from loving the ordinary? 

16 comments:

  1. Beautiful post and so very true. The ordinary. Our own lives. The little things. Those close to us. That's what's important.
    Thanks for the blog link. Will check it out.
    You guys look so gorgeous in all that love!

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  2. What a beautiful post! Love that photo of your family; what a fun portrait!

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  3. I have always felt that there is no higher calling than that of being a mother and no job as rewarding. Loved your photo.

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  4. Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww. Your baby is so beautiful! God bless you! I always think Mommy's that do what you do with a newborn and an energetic toddler are total superstars : )

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  5. Oh sooooo cute! Adorable kids!

    Have a laugh at my Sunday Citar post here.

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  6. You made me want to go and hugs my boys! Cute photos!

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  7. yes thank you. i do love that quote. i needed to read that quote and your post today because i felt totally insufficient and inadequate as a parent yesterday, worrying that i am not enough for my home schooled little island boy. i worry that i'm not doing it right. i worry waaaay too much. lol... have a wonderful love filled day.

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  8. thanks everyone! what kind of simple gifts did you notice today?

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  9. oh my gosh!! is he lifting his head already? he looks so different in just a month... i am amazed at how quickly babies grow into themselves. he is a cutie. you should be super proud!!

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  10. That is a perfect quote, something that needs to be read daily!

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  11. The message of this post is beautiful and true. Wonderful photos - you all look so happy & content.

    Being a Mum to young children can take over our every moment. But as long as we live in that moment and do not spend all of that time being elsewhere in our heads - then that time can turn out to me the most precious. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy :-) In my blog post today I write about celebration and mention how my babes have just turned 7 & 9. I can't believe so much time has passed since they were babies. It goes so quick therefore if we miss the 'moment' the 'now' it'll be gone. Wow I do go on (and am sounding a little old)- but what I'm trying to say is: you've totally got the right attitude and approach and I'm really happy that you're enjoying every moment!

    Hugs
    Kat X

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  12. Love this post. Reminds me of a quote I found, and wrote down recently (only wish I could remember where)...

    "The search for greater meaning robs our life of meaning. We can only love the world we wake up to. The world where things change, dishes get dirty, we age, we get sick, and one day we die."

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  13. BEAUTY! all of it! & your babies are lovely!
    also love the new 'I'm a free spirit'-logo!
    I'll be noticing beauty around me again soon - I've got my nose pressed into the smallest cracks of our new home at the moment, but am convinced the bigger picture will return at some stage ;) I need to quit focusing on what's wrong, and I will, when we've Moved...

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  14. Oh my goodness - I missed the birth! Many, many congratulations - and I wish you buckets and buckets of joy & love! I really like the quote that you referred to - it applies to us all. To see and cultivate the value and the beauty of the ordinary is a special gift, I think.

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  15. beautiful :) and that last photo is precious!

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Thanks for sharing!