Living with Strength and Kindliness
Ways to love a child
I have been thinking a lot about our kids, how they are faring in this seventh lockdown; what is currently sustaining their wellbeing and what is fuelling their stamina to push through the complexities of this very challenging time in their lives.
I have noticed in my household that there is a lot more sitting on the couch together than I can remember. We are taking a walk together more often, soaking up the ambience of a dusty bush track, dogs in tow. There is a lot more sharing of the chores around the house (which is nice!), and there is a lot more checking in on how each of us is going.
It’s hard to know exactly what goes on in the minds of our young people as they endure what is an unnatural necessity to spend prolonged periods of time in one’s own household. And I'm not sure what the impact of spending so much of one’s formative years inside, and at home, will mean for our young people’s education, social and emotional wellbeing and life experiences.
I suppose one thing that I have been deeply grateful for has been the extra time that I have had to show my kids how much I love them and care for them. I have been able to make them lunch and a snack during their class breaks, something that I have never really had the opportunity to do before. We have watched some crazy movies in the last year and a half and I have undertaken the role of taste tester for a lot of cooking experiments, and survived to tell the tale!
I found this beautiful piece of advice in one of my files. It’s called Ways to Love a Child. It has been nice to read over it again and to correlate some of the messages in it with my role as a mother in these challenging times. It has made me think about the positives that have come from spending more time together as a family whilst we get to the other side of this pandemic.
Ways to love a child…
Give your presence more than your presents. Laugh, dance and sing together. Listen from a heart-space. Encourage. Understand. Allow them to love themselves. Say yes as often as possible. Say no when necessary. Honour their no's. Apologize. Touch gently. Build lots of blanket forts. Open up.
Fly kites together. Lighten up. Believe in possibilities. Read books out loud. Create a circle of quiet. Teach feelings. Share your dreams. Walk in the rain. Celebrate mistakes. Admit yours. Frame their artwork. Stay up late together. Eliminate comparison. Delight in silliness. Handle with care. Protect them. Cherish their innocence. Giggle. Speak kindly. Go swimming. Splash. Let them help. Let them cry. Don't hide your tears. Brag about them. Answer their questions.
Let them go when it's time. Let them come back. Show compassion. Bend down to talk to children. Smile even when you're tired. Surprise with a special lunch. Don't judge their friends. Give them enough room to make decisions. Love all they do. Honour their differences. Respect them. Remember they have not been on earth very long.
~ Author Unknown ~
Kirrilee Westblade
Catholic Identity
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