My children are like my second chance at life.  I don't mean that I am one of those parents who live their dreams through their children, (except for the piano lessons...haha)  but through them I get a second chance at being a kid.  I get to snuggle soft little bodies next to me, and read "Love You Forever" by Robert Munsch.  I get to giggle at jokes that make no sense but we laugh because the other one is laughing and we just laugh and laugh.  I get to blow bubbles and draw pictures with sidewalk chalk.  I get to play memory game and go fish.  I even get to play dolls if I want to.  I can go to the park and swing on the swings and nobody looks at me weird because I'm there with my kids.  I can watch my children's minds grow and develop into the most caring and wise human beings.  As I watch their relationship with their daddy and see the love of God for His children as it is meant to be...... there is something within me restored constantly, through my children.  I feel my own love for them as their mother and I know that it is from God. I love my kids so much it physically HURTS sometimes. I would not lay down my life for just anybody, but I would for them.  I would rather fall and scrape my knee than have them scrape theirs.  I am FAR from a perfect mother.  So if I love my kids as much and deeply as I do, how much more does our God love us.  How much more does He want to restore in us, that which is broken, that which has been eaten and destroyed. God has restored much to me already through my children.

One thing I want to instill in my children that I never had, is self esteem.  I picked up this cute little book the other day at the preschool and flipped through it.  Here are some of my favorite easy things to do to raise your child's self esteem...

excerpts from the book "Raise Your Child's Self esteem - 99 easy things to do" by Nancy Krulik

• Tell your child that you love him at least once a day
• Try to take your child's feelings seriously. Don't say "she'll grow out of it" or "it's not so bad"
• Let your child know it's ok to make mistakes. Admit your own
• Laugh at your child's jokes - even when you don't get them
• Praise your child's efforts without worrying about the results
• Teach your child that "can't" is not forever. With a little hard work your child will learn a new skill and turn "can't" into "I can"
• Pay attention to your child's random acts of kindness and thank him for it
• Don't let your child go to bed angry with you - or thinking that you are angry at him
• Always say good-bye before you leave. Sneaking away will make your child mistrust you
• Let your child cry if he needs to. There's no need for him to always take things like a grown up. Remember he's only a kid
• Start an "I can" can.  Decorate with stickers and whatnot. Every time your child accomplishes something new, write it down and put it in the can.  Every once in awhile check the contents of the can so your child can see how much they've learned
• Carry your child's photo in your wallet
• Let your child push the button in the elevator
• Take a day off to go on your child's field trip
• Listen to one of their favorite CD's.
• Let your child record the message on the family answering machine
• Play school together and let your child be the teacher
• Get your child his own magazine subscription
• Set aside a special talking time each day when you can discuss the day's events. Keep this time sacred - no tv shows or telephone calls can interrupt
• Instead of asking your child how school was, try asking him three great things he did that day
• Teach your child the lullabies you sang to him when he was a baby

And here's one from me.......... When you hug your child, don't let go until they do. :)

Posted by homeschoolingmommaof4

I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day filled with love and hugs!

Posted by JacqueDixonSoulRestES

You put it into just the right words - even down to the piano lessons comment!!
LOL ! !

I got your blog from Rachelle. I don't know why I didn't add you to my Friends' before; I have been here and read your posts before!

And, I like your template.. hehehe

Many Blessings and Teachable Moments to you, Sister!