Daily Affirmations

It struck me like lightning.  I was standing there, telling my mother-in-law how sweet Aaron had been with his little brother at school yesterday.  I had called my husband an hour before to tell him.   I had just posted on my blog about how proud I was.  But had I told Aaron?  No. 

Mid-sentence with my mother-in-law, as she was agreeing with how sweet he was (grandmothers are great for that), I apologized, left the conversation, and ran upstairs to his bedroom.  Thankfully, he was still awake.  I told him how proud I was of him, and how very kind and thoughtful he had been with his brother.  His smile was huge, and I gave him a big hug and kiss.

So then I went to the next bedroom, to do the same thing with Sammy.  I needed to tell him I was proud of him, I wanted to complement him on something for the day.  But he was sound asleep.  Bummer.  Thankfully I remembered this morning.

It struck me how often I let a day go by without a verbal, "I'm proud of you" or "I really liked the way you did (blank)."   In the blur of things and the craziness of the days... I forget.  I say "I love you" a lot.  But maybe I am not specific enough.

I am excellent at pointing out all of the things my kids shouldn't be doing; all of those things that frustrate me; all of those things that make me feel like pulling my hair out. 
So I made up my mind that it needs to be a new bedtime ritual, or perhaps just something I keep in the forefront of my mind.  No matter how frustrating the day is, or how manic-crazy they are at bedtime, or how much I want to run downstairs and escape to my own little world, I need to take the time to say, "I'm proud of you for (blank)."   "I loved it today when you did (blank)." 

Otherwise, how will they know?  They can't read my mind.  They don't read my blog.