When I was pregnant with Rosie I read a lot of parenting books. Truth be told, I have been reading parenting books for a decade... I've always had babies on the brain!
One of the books I read was The Parent's Tao Te Ching: Ancient Advice for Modern Parents by William Martin. This passage has really stuck with me:
“Do not ask your children
to strive for extraordinary lives.
Such striving may seem admirable,
but it is the way of foolishness.
Help them instead to find the wonder
and the marvel of an ordinary life.
Show them the joy of tasting
tomatoes, apples and pears.
Show them how to cry
when pets and people die.
Show them the infinite pleasure
in the touch of a hand.
And make the ordinary come alive for them.
The extraordinary will take care of itself.”
It's a good reminder to pause, and enjoy the wonder and beauty in the everyday - not just for parents, but for everyone :-)
Happy Friday!