Valentine Rememberances

Valentines Day is here. And who is more special and dear to one’s heart but our children.

Days pass by slowly and it appears that life is moving gradually. And then on a moment of reflection I realize just how fast the years have gone by. From babies to toddlers, first day of school to wanting to be on facebook…… all flashing by before my eyes. 

These golden days are going by -  way too fast....

Of shrieks of laughter
running and playing,
of smudges on the cheeks
and tear-filled sleepy eyes.
And the smiles and kisses.

Of stories before bedtime
make belief worlds,
of stamping of feet
and tuneless melodies.
And notes below the doors.

 

 

 

Of first days to school
exultations in the holidays,
of watching movies together
and holding hands tightly.
And hugging and never letting go.

Days that seem that would go on forever
have gone away too soon,
Now but memories of old
Fixed in photo albums.
And set in gold within my heart.

Resolutions

Resolutions are important ingredients to success. Without them to guide or drive you, one may sometimes become complacent, relaxed and not so inclined to see them though. Often, the thought that something needs to be done may just flit though your mind like a breeze rippling through the leaves. Without something to retain that thought, it may breeze through and leave without a trace – the thought forgotten, the task undone.

However, upon capturing that thought, if you note it in your mind and say, “I will do this by ‘so and so’ day’ and you resolve to have it done, more often than not you will get it done.

In the month of September, I had resolved to write a number of blog entries – and with this resolution in mind, I actually succeeded in writing 8 blog posts (lesser than I had aspired to do but more than I had ever done – so an achievement nevertheless). I made no such resolution in October and hence, with the number of other competing priorities in my life, I am sad to say that I have not written a single post.

Hence I realize the importance of resolution to guide our mind, to manage our time – until one day that it becomes a habit and one doesn’t need resolutions to see them through.

 

Resolutions are an important life skill for our children to learn as they get older. They should learn to make their own resolutions, initially starting with small and simple ones. This will teach them how to manage their mind and control their ‘will power’ and this in the long run is a critical element of success.

With children let it start small – doable things, nothing ambitious to start with. Let them relish their small successes and in time they can make it work for them so that they can achieve the heights that they want to reach. There is a quote by Ann Landers, “It is not what you do for your children but what you have taught them to do for themselves that will make them successful human beings” – and learning to make and keep resolutions is an important life skill that all children need to learn to become happy and successful individuals.