It was a brisk, chilly evening. I wore a coat of peacock blue. We strolled along the lane slowly, the aroma of meatballs, pizza, Italian coffee drifting out across the way.
When we sat down at the rickety table under the stars I pulled out a yellow legal pad and we began crafting the list. Hardworking. Self-aware. Kind. Compassionate. Disciplined. As the lines began filling faster we realised how much work we had in front of us. What we wanted our future kids to be was only possible if we first practised those qualities ourselves.
Our lives look so different now. We motor from moment to moment, attaching hurried lessons to the mistakes and hoping the little eyes watching choose to model the good instead. We fail, apologise, try again.
The perfect parents we hoped to be seem impossibly out of reach, but I’m realising that isn’t such a bad thing. If nothing else, we do our own work – understanding ourselves, our motives, our failings – perhaps that will be enough to teach the important stuff. Life isn’t straightforward, mistakes will be made, but we keep trying anyway. We show up.
This post is inspired by the Five Minute Friday writing challenge. Each week I join with this talented group of writers, free writing for five minutes in accordance with a prompt. Today’s prompt is ‘work’.
10 comments
You meant from your mistakes. You try again the next day. You show up and that’s truly all that matters,
Thanks Tara, yes mistakes are often the most effective way to learn something (unfortunately)!
We show up. YES, Emma!
My life now feels like I’ve just gone a dozen rounds with Iron Mike Tyson (do I still have my ears?), but nonetheless…I still have to show up, even when simply getting to my feet takes everything I’ve got.
#1 at FMF this week.
https://blessed-are-the-pure-of-heart.blogspot.com/2017/09/your-dying-spouse-360-faith-and-hope.html
Respect, Andrew – you are definitely a shining example of showing up when it hurts the most. Hoping for a better week for you…
For sure – there are no perfect parents but how wonderful that you both wanted to purposely think about and plan for an outcome rather than flying by the seat of your pants, per se! Goals are applaudable!
Thanks Jennifer, that is very encouraging 🙂 Goals can be great and I’m not sad that we approached it in that way – we can only do the best with the information we have at the time, I think!
Here’s to showing up, and the blessings that brings. I have to also say that you fully captured me with your first paragraph and I desperately now want a peacock blue coat. And pizza!
I love that you wrote out what you want to be for your children to model. Even if we don’t always hit the mark, it is nice to have a mark to aim for.
Visiting you from FMF (70-can’t wait until I get to say 50!) 🙂
Have a wonderful week!
I’m trying to remember if I even still have that coat in my cupboard… I think I do! It hasn’t gotten much wear since having kids, that’s for sure! Hoping things are going more smoothly for you this week with house stuff xx
You are doing it, mess and all. Blue peacock coats for everyone!
I think that should be included in a political manifesto of some type!