In this busy day and age, I often find that my children and I are bustling from get-up to go-down. There's never a moment’s break. Driving to school this morning my car was quiet. I started to ponder what it was I should be teaching them in this moment. Should we go over their ABC's? Should I remind them about their colors, shapes or numbers? Maybe this was the time that I was supposed to be teaching them an all-important life lesson. But what was it? What words of wisdom was I supposed to be imparting on their eager little minds? As I mulled all of this over and over in my head, the quiet grew louder to me, and then it hit me.
The quiet is okay.
THIS was the lesson I was teaching my children.
When we got out of the car I asked my son what he was thinking about when we drove and he said, "I was thinking about all the things I need to teach R (his sister). About how she's watching me, and growing, and that I want to be a good teacher for her." When I asked R what she was thinking about she said, "I am a big girl now! I am big with a big girl lunchbox going to a big girl school with W!" She was beaming with pride.
Would my words ever have instilled that sense of pride, self-confidence and self-worth? I could not have given her what she just gave herself in that 10 minutes of silence. I wouldn't have thought to encourage my son to raise his sister up in his image. Nor would I have been able to give him the confidence to believe that he could. Not in that 10 minute window. In that quiet, in that stillness, they were teaching themselves. More importantly, they were teaching me.
This world is full of hustle and bustle. Let's not let it get the best of us.
Quiet time and self-exploration is how we grow independently. So take some of the pressure off... Feel free to spend some moments of silence, resting. Take the guilt away. Sit down and take a minute for yourself while your children play independently. (Independent play encourages growth, strength and confidence.) You are teaching them that you value YOURself and YOUR time AND that it's okay to sit down and breathe. It's okay to let your children operate independently.
Because quiet isn't just okay, it's good.
About Me
I am a retired veteran turned play at home mom. I have a two-year-old daughter, a three-year-old son and a 10-year-old stepson that I am honored to mommy every day. I look forward to sharing our play at home experiences and learning from you and yours!
Ariel Sahota
Fusion Contributor
Login