this is their time

this week i have had a lot of my plate, and found myself slipping back into my old ways of working too much during the day. too much when my kids are awake and need me.

i hear this voice...

"this is my time mama, i want you".

my miss A is a wise little three and half year old.  she is right, this is her time, this is her sisters time. but i wont lie that hurt and filled me with so much sadness and a gut wrenching guilt.  

oh being a mom can be hard. i know any mom out there knows what mommy guilt is. and that kind of guilt is like our scarlet letter. 

i know i do the best i can, but somedays i wish that was better.  i wish somedays i didn't have to work so much.  i wish there were more hours in the day. i wish my children wouldn't grow so fast. i wish life were simpler. oh, there are so many things i wish.

but wishing isn't realistic. gandhi was right, you must be the change you seek. 

{ how to really love a child }

be there. 

say yes as often as you can.

let them bang on pots and pans.

if they're crabby, put then in water.

read books out loud with joy.

go find elephants and kiss them.

encourage silly.

giggle a lot.

remember how really small they are.

search out the positive.

keep the gleam in your eye.

go see a movie in your pyjamas.

teach feelings.

realize how important it is to be a child. 

plan to build a rocketship.

stop yelling.

invent pleasures together.

surprise them.

express your love.

 a lot.

children are miraculous.

-sark

i came across these words by sark this week. it instantly made me smile and it allowed me to see the world in my children's eyes.  i will be printing this off so it can be a daily reminder of their time and remind myself to really cherish these days.