Growing Healthy Kids Blog: Self-Esteem

My friend Susan shared this with me this morning. It was EXACTLY the reminder I needed! It brought tears to my eyes and a smile to my face. I just had to share it with you!

Not only is this an awesome reminder for each of us, but it is a lesson that we should be teaching our children DAILY!

Many blessings,
Maria

Twenty Dollars
Author Unknown

A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked. "Who would like this $20 bill?"

Hands started going up. He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you - but first, let me do this."

He proceeded to crumple the 20 dollar note up. He then asked. "Who still wants it?" Still the hands were up in the air.

"Well," he replied, "what if I do this?" He dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. "Now, who still wants it?"

Still the hands went into the air.

"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20.

Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless; but no matter what happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value.

Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are still priceless to those who love you. The worth of our lives comes, not in what we do or who we know, but by ...WHO WE ARE.
You are special - don't ever forget it."

This little guy exudes self-esteem and confidence, as well as a passion for music and entertaining. He's a perfect example of the pure, unspoiled spirit that children embody. . . that is until it is unrightfully stolen away or beaten down by ridicule, doubt, fear, abuse, hate, prejudice, etc.

Let us uplift our children and celebrate all their gifts and blessings, as they are gifts and blessings to us and the world!

Here's to Growing Healthy Kids. . . with Unconditional Love and Acceptance!

Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
Maria

Here's a link to the little guy singing and dancing around his living room so you can see him in all his glory!
Singing His Song!



Here's the little guy jammin' from his carseat in the back of a car. . .

Do you know what your kids appreciate most about you or from you? Have you ever asked them? Erin Kurt has.

As a teacher, one of her favorite assignments was a Mother's Day assignment where she would ask her students to write about what their mother or guardian did with them or for them that made them feel happy or loved.

Their answers may surprise you, especially given yesterday's news that children and teens spend an average of more than 7 hours DAILY "married" to technology in the form of TV, cell phones, texting, video games, computers, social networking, the internet, etc., not to mention how "overscheduled" they seem to be!

Here's the top 10 responses Ms. Kurt received from her students:

- Come into my bedroom at night, tuck me in and sing me a song. Also tell me stories about when you were little.
- Give me hugs and kisses and sit and talk with me privately.
- Spend quality time just with me, not with my brothers and sisters around.
- Give me nutritious food so I can grow up healthy.
- At dinner talk about what we could do together on the weekend.
- At night talk to me about about anything; love, school, family etc.
- Let me play outside a lot.
- Cuddle under a blanket and watch our favorite TV show together.
- Discipline me. It makes me feel like you care.
- Leave special messages in my desk or lunch bag.

Insightful and heart-warming, isn't it?

Before I sat down to write this, I asked my kids this question, "What is one thing that I do with you or for you that makes you feel happy or loved?"

I must also share that I was a bit worried about the answers I would receive as my question interupted a texting session between my 13-year old son and six of his friends (he got a cell phone 3 weeks ago and earns up to an hour of texting time each day). He was concurrently watching my 11-year old daughter design a new character for the Wii. (We had finished playing Horse-opoly together a few minutes earlier.)

Their responses were immediate and in unison.

"Cook my dinner and wash my clothes." (Son)

"Tuck me in." (Daughter)

WHEW! What a relief!

Just kidding. I wasn't at all surprised by their answers as the first nine things on the list are part of our family's daily rituals. And the tenth. . . I randomly surprise them with little notes or smiley faces or special treats.

These ten things are purposefully important in our home and are some of my most memorable and favorite things my mother did for me when I was growing up.

What did your mother do with you or for you that made you feel happy and loved while growing up? Ask your kids the same question. They just may surprise you, and themselves! If nothing else, it's a wonderful conversation starter about gratitude and what's really important. Or, perhaps, it may be a much needed wake-up call.

I look forward to reading your comments about how you and/or your children answered this question.

Click here to read the full article by Erin Kurt on Lifehack