Countdown to School

So, the countdown has begun.  In four days, my children will be off to their first day of the school year!  Chloe will be in fifth grade -- FIFTH!  Wasn't she sleeping in my arms yesterday?

Harley will be a JUNIOR this year!  A JUNIOR!  In HIGH SCHOOL!  My little boy!  How did that happen?

So here are my wishes for my children for this year:

1.  That they will always remember who they are.  My father's mother said it to him, he said it to my siblings and me, and I say it to my children:  Remember who you are.  It's not a warning against sudden onset amnesia.  No, it's a simple, yet profound, admonishment to remember that when you are out in the world, they represent their family, their parents, and most especially, God.  It's a reminder to always behave in a way that will make everyone see there is something different, special about them.

2.  To always stand up for what's right.  I tell my kids, "Doing the right thing isn't always easy, but it's always the right thing."  Stand up for God and His truths.  Stand up for the underdog.  Stand up to bullies and meanness.  That also means standing up for themselves.  Our kids are taught at school to be tolerant, etc., and somewhere along the way, that came to include letting people push you around, browbeat you and trash-talk to or about you, and you just let it go.  No!  That is completely wrong, and I want my kids to stand up for themselves.

3.  Make new friends.  Look for interesting people.  Don't pass up an opportunity to meet someone new just because they're different, younger, older, goofier, quieter, whatever.  At least find out more about them.  If it's not a good fit, at least you tried, and you didn't miss out on the friendship of a lifetime because you didn't look outside your little circle of friends.

4.  Get outside your comfort zone every now and then.  Be fearless when it comes to learning new things, trying new things, all of it.  JUST TRY.

5.  Choose to be happy.  Life, work, school, other people, they will always throw you curveballs, throw problems and difficulties in your path.  How you respond, react and resolve is up to YOU.  Choose to respond with the assurance that God is always with you.  Choose to react with grace under pressure.  Choose to resolve issues with the awareness that you are a child of God.  Put a smile on your face and a laugh in your heart, and see if things don't look a little better.

6.  Remember how much I love you.