For the week of: Monday, February 26th 2007

"Celebrate!"

George Lucas would have been so proud.  We had Star Wars tablecloths, Star Wars balloons, napkins and plates, Star Wars banners, Star Wars birthday presents, Star Wars birthday cake, Star Wars gift wrap, Star Wars party blowers and Star Wars cups.  The force was definitely with us!

Last night we celebrated our oldest grandson’s birthday.  Dylan will officially be nine on Tuesday but the celebration was last night with thirty-one family members at our house.  Par-tay!  Our daughter-in-law has a sizeable family and we are delighted to be joined with these wonderful folks. 

One of our traditions has become playing hide-and-go-seek at the end of the party.  You haven’t really played hide-and-go-seek until you play it indoors with 12 children ages ten and under and a few brave adults.  No closet, shower, or piece of luggage is off-limits (Yep, one time our like-a-daughter, Donna, folded herself into a suitcase.  Need I say, she wasn’t found!).

It was a joy to gather around the dining room table while Dylan puckered up to blow out his candles and hear voices from age eighty-five to three years of age sing, “Happy Birthday to you.  Happy Birthday, to you.  Happy Birthday, dear Dylan.  Happy Birthday to you.”   I don’t think there’s a whisper of doubt in Dylan’s mind…he is special.

Moms and Dads, children yearn to feel as though they belong.  They long to feel special.  They crave being accepted.  That’s your job. 

You may receive a paycheck from a corporation but it only provides you with the ability to provide for the physical essentials of life.  You already possess the resources to provide what your children need most – a place to belong, a family in which to feel special, the assurance of acceptance.

May I make a few practical suggestions that you can incorporate into every day:

• Let the first view they have of your face each day be a smile that says you are delighted to see them,
• Touch your child’s arm or shoulder, regardless of age, with gentleness as they talk to you,
• Fight against the huff (you know, that sound we often make accompanied by a bothered look when our child calls our name at a most inconvenient time),
• Stoop to their eye level when they talk to you (how much do you think you’d like staring up into the nostrils of someone you’re talking to?),
• Tell them often of a funny or touching story that happened the day they were born,
• Let each child in the family choose one day a week to request their favorite breakfast food, after school snack or dinner item,
• Celebrate birthdays with passion,
• Ask your child what they’d like to play before they come and beg you,
• Let them hear you pray for them by name every single day,
• Instead of using the “I love you” phrase all the time, try using phrases such as, “You are precious to me”, “I thank God for you every day”, “I’m so glad you’re in our family”, “I’m honored to be your Mom”, “I smile when I think of you”.

Lovingly from this momma’s (and grandma’s) heart to yours,

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