Insightful and creative Mon over at Holistic Mama asks the question: "It's easy to be thankful for the good stuff, can you be thankful for the not so good?"
Should I be surprised that sensitive me produced four sensitive children? Some days, I feel like I'm bombarded by overly sensitive mood swings with my bunch. On any given afternoon, I may have to jump from one kid to another as they go through "something" that got them all worked up. My soon to be thirteen year old will take almost any comment or criticism way too seriously. My ten year old can get overwhelmed with a new task at school and shut down temporarily. You all know that my six year old can be a volatile volcano these days. My sweet four year old daughter has her very clingy moments, especially when I have to get through a quick conversation with another adult. Lately, she'll pull on me like crazy to stop talking. She has to crave my attention right then and there. Hopefully, this phase will end soon :)
Since it is "Thankful Anyway Thursday", I want to celebrate my children and their sensitivity. I believe that it's important to live life with a full heart and sympathetic nature. It can be trying sometimes when every little bump in the road of a relationship gets to you. I think I'll always have trouble navigating through those bumpy waters.
I am grateful that my kids also show their sensitivity with their friends and classmates. Often, one of my sons will comment on how he felt bad if another kid was getting picked on. I'm always upset to hear the stories about the bullying in schools. It's really sad to think of how much teasing and harassment is going on in today's schools. My kids are quick to befriend "the underdog" on the bus or the playground. Sometimes, my kids are the underdogs too.
I'm very proud of their sensitive questions and concern for the people in Haiti. When one of my sons saw a picture of a little Haitian child lost and alone, he asked, "Will he be alright? Who is there to help him?" Looking at my son, I struggled to think of what answer to give. I want to say that he'll be alright. I could tell that my son was really worried about that child.
I'm happy that my kids have my "sensitivity gene". I don't want them to grow up to feel disconnected or calloused in their reactions to others. My main goal for my children is that they always show kindness and compassion. I hope they do well in other areas, like education and careers, but to me it is most important that they are kind people.
Who knows? Maybe with all this sensitivity overflow in my house, I should start a theater company. I always wanted to direct :) Or should I consider a soap opera?
28 comments:
You are already the directress, aren't you? Oh yes. :)
Your children are blessed to have a mom that embraces their wholeness. Sensitivity can be challenging in children. Hurray for you for being thankful anyway.
'Thankful anyway', what a good saying, especially in the beginning of a new year. In my country a writer said, 'if there are too many people you need to express your thankfulness, maybe you can thank god or mother nature'. Have a greater year 2010.
We are already seeing a sensitive side come out in our almost 2 year old. She literally starts crying if my husband looks at her the wrong way or gets upset at her. I was the same way when I was a kid....my parents never had to punish me, just tell me how disappointed they were and that was punishment enough. It's challenging being sensistive sometimes but it is also a wonderful quality! I like the idea of this "thankful anyway" - it's great!
Thanks for reminding me that there is always a positive to what seems like a negative. My 8 year old daughter is very clingy and huggy lately. But I have to admit that I'm happy she still wants to hold my hand when we walk through stores.
I'd choose sensitivity over insensitivity any day!
We, the human race, is blessed to have your kids sharing the world with us. Empathy is such a wonderful trait. Genetic or not, you did a great job.
My middle child is sensitive/empathic. She feels bad for others. I told my husband that later in life she will probably get ulcers. He said she will probably be the one burdened with us in old age. Sad, huh?
I can soooo relate! I think you described what it is like to be sensitive, beautifully. It can be so tricky to navigate and feel like an emotional land mine some days! You and I however, are on the same wavelength when it comes to being grateful in the not so good stuff :)
How lucky your kids are to have you! The way you know them and acknowledge their way of being in this world is a great thing.
What a wonderful Thankful Anyway. Seriously. This world needs a new generation that is caring and sensitive. I think you have the gift of empathy, and I bet your little ones do, too.
I am also SO proud of how well I did at producing a sensitive son that is so similar to his Momma! :)
its a wonderful post my dear! you wont believe but you sounded exactly like my mom. she accepted us as we are but always wanted to change us for our + other's better future. she's asked us to learn why we are here. your post wasn't philosophical but it contained the basic philosophy of life that is how sensitivity can be different from insensitivity. your kids are sensitive and emotional like you, this will further help them when they meet different people in their life! how proud you will feel when you will see your kids smiling at other people's success and crying out for their pain! they are simply blessed..
Awwww..love this post and your celebration of their sensitivity.
WOW, FOUR sensitive kids, phew, that's work alright. I'm a sensitive person myself, I know how much work I am, lol.
But yeah, sensitivity is glorious. They're so blessed to have you as their mama.
better overly sensitive than the heartless tin-man! I am too grateful that my son has my "sensitivity gene"! He is very caring and empathetic and it makes me so proud especially in a world of selfishness and greed.
Congratulations to your kids sensitivity!!!! AND to YOU for being the amazing mom that shared/taught/provided/exuded this personality trait!
What sweet children you have. You should get them into theater...My kids love it. i only have one sensitive child.
I believe that sensitive children are more about others than themselves. They feel and sense more. Love them right where they are and not an inch less.
I'm sure it can be trying at times but I'd much rather have sensitive kids than insensitive kids. You're doing a great job!!!
I love how you turned the often frustrated things about your kids into a positive story. I definitely need to do more of that myself!! Great idea on starting your own theatre company. Or at the very least, you could all write a play and perform it for your family and neighbors or church community. Sounds like a plan to me! Let me know when I should purchase my ticket!
we have been over run by a lot of drama too. Maybe it's a full moon.
You've raised some wonderful kids Septembermom, and you've instilled some amazing qualities in them. You may have some future actors on your hands : )
Yes, you can certainly be blessed that your children are sensitive, caring and empathetic. I agree that kindness is so very important and highly under-rated, I believe!You can be proud!
Kelly, us sensitive types have to stick together. We are definitely on the same wavelength today-my son, my daughter, and yours truly all had a dose of "poor me" today... You are right though-until our kids learn to "go with the flow", there will be trying times!
I think it is absolutely wonderful that your children are so caring and sensitive. We have enough uncaring and callous people in the world. I especially love that your boys show such compassion. It is important that our men learn the language of emotion and kindness. I think that men are emotional within but are hardly ever given the language to express it. Thank goodness for parents like you. I hope to raise some sensitive and kind kids too.
:) I think you are right about it being a good thing that your kids have your sensitive gene. Teaching kids to think of those outside of themselves is not that easy. But, you are right, I can see how that might produce a soap opera at home sometimes. Oh well, the good thing about soap operas is that it is good training ground for the the "big screen" of life. :)
It's great that your children are so sensitive and you're just a wonderful mother:)
Have a nice day!
Its hard to go through life feeling so intensely, but if everyone were as empathetic and sensitive as you and yours then there would definitely be a lot less ugly and cruelty in the world.
Yep, I think you need to go for the soap opera. :)
The sensitivity is a great trait, and I love that you aren't trying to suppress it. I totally get the impacts it has on you... and ohhh how grateful am I that we're in the school we're in that focuses so much on character development and all the attendant lessons. Kudos to you for being grateful!
"...but to me it is most important that they are kind people."
Very nice piece. It even looks good, sounds good, flows well.
Kindness is one of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23), so you are right on target.
I teach kindness under the umbrella of two virtues I try to instill in youth. What characteristics are most important to me for my kids? Pleasant and hard-working.
The Socratic idea is that virtue is the balance point between two extremes. Old Testament priests had their big toes annointed as part of their preparation. Why? Perhaps because the big toe is required for maintaining balance.
Don
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