Raising two little girls is my favorite part of my life. Even at just 4 years old and 9 months old, they’ve taught me more than I ever imagined was possible- lessons that are distinct and life altering. That being said, I have a thing or two I want to make sure and teach them to help ensure that they grow up to be happy, fulfilled, functioning members of society. Here’s a few that have been on my mind lately that I want to make sure my girls know:
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Dream your dreams.
Most people will say “follow your dreams,” but lets not forget the step of dreaming in the first place. You don’t need much to dream – an imagination, an understanding of your desires, and a little time to let your mind wander. For me, that last one, TIME, is the toughest part. But it’s so important. So, my little darlings, make time in your life to dream because if you don’t you will just be existing – and where is the fun in that?
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Take the breath mint.
I’m being both literal and figurative here. If someone is offering you a mint, you will never know if it’s because they just happened to have their Altoid tin out, or if you have a full-on fire breathing situation going on. So why risk it? Take the mint! And the bigger message here is to learn to accept help. It’s easy to get in the habit of carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders but the truth is you are never alone. Not while I’m on this earth and not while the good Lord has got his eyes on you, so don’t be afraid to accept help when its offered to you. Even if you don’t think you NEED it, the outcome will probably be better with a little assistance in the mix.
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Tell her she has lipstick on her teeth!
Be a good friend. We need each other in this life but its easy to get so focused on our own drama or chaos that we forget to be an active part of our friends lives and to support them when they need it. It doesn’t have to be complicated. It doesn’t even have to take a lot of time. Send a text, drop a card in the mail, make time for a visit… whatever you can manage but friendship makes life sweeter. And also, speaking from experience, sisters make life sweeter – so be a good sister while you’re at it.