I encourage my boys to talk to me about anything. And when they do, I strive to remain calm and non-judgmental—simply listen and help them feel understood. I realized tonight that with all the distractions of this age, I'm not the perfect listener, but I am trying.
When my boys are with me, I make a point to cook dinner so we can sit down together at the table for conversation and fun. In the hustle and bustle of hockey season, sometimes a quick meal is necessary and a family dinner doesn’t always happen, but I'm trying.
My daily goal is to laugh with my boys, and let go of the things that tend to cause frustration and discouragement. It's easy with Max and his friends in the "Mahalo" to cherish the simple moments and keep what is important in perspective. Due to the stress of school, work, and parenting, sometimes I don't cherish the moments that matter, but I'm trying.
Although I realized there are days I fall short on being the mom I strive to be, I hear a loving voice telling me not to give up. This same voice reminds me that there is one area where I usually get it right:
I never fail to express love to my boys. I usually try to tuck my boys in bed. And I never fail to say the words, “I love you”—sometimes even whispering the words as I kiss their foreheads after they’ve gone to sleep.
Because at the end of the day, I know it’s all about the love … love that is accessible, warm, open, continuous—like the love my mom and dad gave me that I am now passing on to my boys.
