12 Daddies’ Princesses

The weekend before Valentine's I was asked to teach a few basic social dance steps at a Father Daughters Dance. I have taught a workshop for ballroom dance in college, once upon a time. I figured I could remember enough to teach them, so I agreed. I am so grateful that I did! The girls were all between the ages of 8 and 11 years. Once they arrived and I assessed the situation I concluded that this was going to be unlike any other teaching experience I have had up to this point and I was right.

I had them get into closed dancing positions and right off I had to make adjustments, these girls were not going to be able to reach their dad’s shoulders. I thought I had prepared but here already I was thrown - they put there hands on their dad’s elbows. I then went on to teach the very basics of waltz. I was inspired to describe the waltz as the princess dance that most Disney princesses do with their prince, at the end of the movies. Their eyes lit up. We also went over a few steps of Cha Cha. Sure they were far from perfect but what I saw that night touched my soul. These girls came in with their dads and there before my eye transformed into the princesses they were dancing like.

This took place as their dad with gentle love directed their girls through the steps I taught them to the best of their abilities. It also brought back memories of dancing with my own Dad, and how I felt like I too  transformed into a princess while dancing with him. This night I learned or relearned that dads have the power to change their daughters into real princesses, not just through dance but by the way they treat their daughters. I am sure that moms get to take pride in many of  these tender moments as I did this night.

Single Awareness Day... No Longer

Being single has it’s challenges like any other phase of life. I know of the feelings of loneliness and temptation to go into yourself, and shutting out others. To feel some how turning a blind eye to the fact that there is love all around, because we have not yet found the love we want to find. We must look and see it, accepting the quest of changing “Single Awareness Day” to valentine's day in the month of Feb  and everyday. By opening our eyes and hearts to  seeing that we do indeed have love around us waiting to be felt.  

Over the last 5 years of teaching children I have learned much, from them about Valentine's Day. Children get excited about buying that box of Valentines, or they cut out hearts and give them to each other and anyone else that are in their lives. I have been blessed by many of these cute cards hand crafted or otherwise. We talk together about love and how we know when someone loves us and followed by how we show another we love them. Through my many conversations, with these precious children I began to better see those in my life, show me they love me and I them. The more my eyes were open to these things the less lonely I felt. I now celebrate this day of love and how grand it feels to know that I am being loved by those around me.

This is not to say I don’t ever feel lonely anymore. It’s simply less often and I have a tool for finding happiness in the love I do have now.

Knock on the Door

Over the summer I was doing a little Nannying for a family in need. This family lived in a fun little neighborhood. I in fact knew many of the children I would see in the yards playing. I had taught them or one of their siblings at some point. I was sure to stop and talk to them or at least say hi when ever I saw them. Well, one day while Nannying there was a knock on the door this was not uncommon I figured it was a child or two  that was wanting to play with the children I was watching. With the baby in my arms I went to the door and answered it. To my surprise it was one of my students from my boy’s class over the last year. I assume he saw my car in his neighbor's driveway and came by and wanted to talk to me. The children I was watch went outside to play so we shared a few moments together talking. I don’t remember our conversation we had. I am sure it was one of simple loving friendship. This boy of 8 years brought me such joy by his actions of leaving what ever it was he was playing to come and say hi to me. I also realized in this moment that my efforts and love I put into teaching has it’s benefits like in this moment it is all worth it.

A Step to Initiation

This past fall my sister-in-law and I decided to go to my parents for a visit with her three boys. It was a fun trip and our time there was wonderful, we grew closer together as sisters. Part of our journey to and from my parents house there is a road the over the years has gain a reputation, we call it the Winedy Twisty road. Car sickness is not uncommon for most people, I myself have troubles with it from time to time. Well, has we set off to travel back to Utah a 12 hour drive I sat between the two older boys 4 and 2 years of age. We started down this road and both these boys stomachs rebelled. Up came their once yummy breakfast. The nature of this road is that the driver can not stop it is too narrow  and dangerous so I got to hold bags to prevent further mess and then comfort and clean up after these two boys. While remaining well my self. I was able to step into the right attitude and help these boys beyond my normal ability.   

I feel therefore that I have completed a step in my initiation of my mommy moments. I had the great honor of cleaning up not one but after two car sick boys. Once out of this area we stopped at a gas station and finished helping these boys. Thinking back on it a smile comes to my face if not a little crooked. I was able to help these boys when they needed someone and I was able to rise to the occasion.  

Gift Received

I love Christmas time because I get to give gifts to those I love and I try to put time into my gifts so there are personal and the recipient knows of my love for them. This is the ultimate goal, yet like everything else in life it doesn't always get done. This year was like many others I put a lot a thought into what I would get each person. The best one I gave this year was to my four year old nephew.  For his birthday he was given the game ‘Minecraft’ and how he loves it! He could do things very successfully and create fun things. This game we played as a family and over Thanksgiving I played with this nephew it was enjoyable. On a regular basis he would ask him how to build something in fact every time he would want to build even the same object that I showed me moments before he would ask again. This is when the idea was planted. He need something visual so he could figure out it for himself. They have recipes online and even in books but they are all directed to older children/adults. I therefore made one with my knowledge of both the game and child development studies I created a small book that had big pictures and words so that he could look up for himself what he wanted to make.  When he opened it and immediately flipped through the pages and declared, “This is how you make a pickaxe” and so on through each page. He was so excited he went around showing each member of the family. He did not put down the book for a long time afterward.

How it soothes the heart to know that your gift has been gratefully received. My nephew gave me the best gift I could have asked for he gave me the gift of gratitude and love. It is such a simple gift yet has such a power. Let us all also share this gift of gratitude genuinely with those around us. I received a gift that I did not ask for but how I needed it! Thank you little man of mine.

Service Fountain

I was sitting at some distance from a drinking fountain at church which became a momentary distraction whenever it was being used and more specifically by children. What started out as a mild distraction turned into a lesson for me. As I watched children bring their toddler brother or sister to the drinking fountain, and then with great effort they would lift a child that was normally at least half their size and probably even weight. Holding their sibling up and pushing the button long enough for a quick drink. This did not just take place once it took place multiple times. I was touched over and over again by the service of the older sibling and the complete confidence and trust of the younger sibling.  I am sure that the younger sibling put up with uncomfortable positions their bodies when into while their older sibling lifted them so they might have a drink.

How many of us would physically lift someone more than half your weight and height? These children gave so willingly of themselves not in any grand gesture just a simple task that was not given any pomp and circumstance.

Wee Editor

Frequently I get to participate in my brother and sister-in-laws family scripture study.  Being part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints we study the scriptures found in the Book of Mormon as well as the Bible, this night we were in the Book of Mormon. With this family of three small boys scripture reading is quite an adventure. The main points covered each night during their study are first read 10 verses those old enough to speak participate. The two older boys each ‘read’ or repeat what their mom or dad tells them too, feeding them a couple words at time.  These dictated verses are the shorts out of the allotted ten the family will read that night. When there are others over like myself I get to read a verses or two as well.  So, times it is quite the little battle to have the two older boys repeat the words of their verses and sometimes there is nothing to complain about well the night that became a mommy moment for me was one that took place quite smoothly.  They were reading in the 18th book of Alma. The great teaching of the missionary Ammon, we were coming to the part where the King of the land accepted what he was being taught and being overcome with the spirit of the Lord he went unconscious verse 42 was my 2 year old nephews turn to read. His verse was this, “And now, when he had said this, he fell unto the earth, as if he were dead.” He said the words that were given him, forming them in to the cutest versions of themselves, in a way that only  a two year old can pull off. While doing this we was fingering a toy in his lap. So it did not seem he was giving much thought to what it was he was saying. Until the last word the word was given to him, still focusing on his toy in his lap he stops and does not say the last word, it is given to him again and still he says nothing. Once more it is repeated to him. This time he says “not dead”. Still looking at the toy in his lap. Thinking he misheard the correct word was given him again ‘dead’, and again he said, “not dead”. After this we understood what was going on with the best reasoning given to a child of two he knew being dead was not good and so this King or more likely anyone could not be dead. Thereby he changed it to fit his interpretation of the situation better.

This whole event was super cute and all that were there laughed about it for a bit. In addition I was super impressed with the fact that this seemingly distracted child was indeed listening and trying to understand the best he could the scriptures. To all moms out there that are are trying to study scriptures with their small children or even the big ones, or just trying to teach your children something good, they are picking up and understanding more then they are letting on.