Years ago when Jake was preschool age we made a little tie board so we could teach our kids to tie their shoes. (Of course, all kids' shoes these days have velcro...but it's still an important life skill!) Now that Abby is our resident kindergartener, I've been working with her on it.
Tie a knot. Make a loop. Draw your other piece around your loop. (No, not that way, the other way!) Now chase your thumb out through that hole. (No, that way! Here, use this piece.) OK, now pull these ends tight. Look, isn't that beautiful?
It's slow work helping a little kid learn to tie bows. She needs to be encouraged, to know she's making progress, to know that she really is going to figure out how to do this all by herself one day.
"You're doing a good job, Abby. Look, you already got all four of these done!" I say. And I think about how much little bits of encouragement make a difference to all of us.
Life is hard for everyone. Deep down inside everyone yearns for a few kind words.
"You're doing a good job."
"You have such a talent for that!"
"It may not seem like it right now, but things will work out."
Kindness is the essence of greatness and the fundamental characteristic
of the noblest men and women I have known. ~Joseph B. Wirthlin
Life is hard. Motherhood is hard. Choosing words that are kind, encouraging, and uplifting makes a big difference for everyone.
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