This was a favorite quote of my father's. I specifically remember him saying this to me in regard to smoking. He was a smoker since he had been 16 and did not want to see his kids do the same thing that he had...namely become addicted to nicotine. His mandate of "Do not smoke" was confusing and I remember having this conversation about "Well, you smoke, why cant I?!" His response was "Do as I say, not as I do." (this was also followed by an in house smoking session which cured me of ever smoking...he let me trying under his watch knowing full well that I would, as a child HATE it)
Ive been thinking about how this phrase relates to the girl. She is so much in tune with watching everything I do right now. I know its a sign of adolescence upon us. It makes me gulp and cringe sometimes because I get so off the mark and she is truly right there to call me on it. Its made me contemplate and have a desire to actually be a person of ACTING and not just saying things.
Its much harder though. To put love into practice. To go out of your way to serve someone else. To show it and not just say it. And yet I know the dividends will come back 10-fold.
I was laughing to myself the other day because right now are two books on my nightstand... Everything You Wanted to Know About the First Year and Almost 13. One is about the things that will occur in the Baby Girl's life this next year. The other is about the things that will occur in the Girl's life soon.
I couldnt tell you which will take more effort. Babies are labor intensive and pre-teens are emotionally/philosophically intensive.
Im rambling, but those are just my thoughts for the day...
2 comments:
i am so at the moment when i think the 13 year old sounds way more daunting but mostly because i am ready to have this baby.... or not really but just no be prego!
Truly the toughest years of parenting are the teenage ones! There's no way you can get it perfectly right, but if you stay on your knees, you'll manage. :)
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