A few weeks ago, I was sitting at MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) and the speaker caught my attention. She said, “Be the adult you want your children to be.”

I have thought about those words every day since that talk. When I watch one of my children behave in a way I wish they wouldn’t or push another siblings buttons, it has made me really sit down and evaluate my actions. Are they getting any of this from me? Sure, some of it is just personality driven (or hunger driven), but could I be modeling behavior better?

It is so hard when your children can act as a mirror.

I’d love to spare you the gory details, but the truth is, my attitude can get downright ugly if plans change at the last minute. Lack of sleep and the tiniest bit of hunger can create eye rolls that any thirteen year old would be proud of. The sighs that drive me crazy when I hear them from the backseat are born straight out of their witness of my actions when I’m caught in traffic.

I’m not raising children. I’m raising adults. I’m raising these beautiful little people who will contribute to society, and it is best for me to remember that. Jenny, one of the girls at our table, reminded us that our children will be adults for most of our life.

These days can feel long, but we will blink. So cliche, so true. When I look at Julia, I can’t believe she is 15. My time with her is already limited, and the tapestry of her childhood has already begun to unravel so that she can take the threads and create her own masterpiece.

I made a printable for my mirror to help me start each day right. Feel free to download a copy (8.5″x 11″)  for yourself, too!

 

Download by clicking here.