Our Mindful Life

Our Mindful Life: January 2011

Our Mindful Life

Our Mindful Life is about paying attention to what it is that we do on a day to day basis and how we impact each other and the planet. We will talk about all of the things that we do here at home to make ourselves and the world a better place.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

There is enough to go around...




Welcome to the January Carnival of Natural Parenting: Learning from children



This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama. This month our participants have shared the many lessons their children have taught them. Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants.



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My children have taught me many things. The greatest thing they have taught me, though, is that there is enough to go around. There are enough hankies. There are enough towels. There is enough food to feed even unexpected guests. There is enough illness. There is enough wellness. There is enough air. There is enough hope. And most especially, there is enough love. There is enough love for everyone. There is definitely enough love to go around.

It seems like a silly thing to question. Is there enough love? But, coming from a culture where love was given when you were "in" and removed when you were "out", I know that I was always worried, deep down, that I wouldn't have enough love to go around. The first time I laid eyes on the Bean, I loved her more than I could imagine loving anyone. But still, I wasn't sure. I knew I could love HER enough. But when the Bug came, there was this little twinge. This little fear... This little not knowing. And now, 2.5 years later, I have fully come into loving both of my children equally (without having to work at it) and knowing that my heart is indeed big enough to fit every child I may have, and to fit other family, friends, animals, and anyone else whom I may want to fit. Because loving more doesn't make the love run out. There is no reason to withdraw it from anyone. The more we love, the more love we create.

This is the greatest lesson my children have taught me.



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Carnival of Natural Parenting -- Hobo Mama and Code Name: MamaVisit Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama to find out how you can participate in the next Carnival of Natural Parenting!

Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:

(This list will be live and updated by afternoon January 11 with all the carnival links.)

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