Childhoodtake2!

Every Friday we unite for five minutes. Only five minutes, that's all we get, that's all we have. And then, right where we are, no edits or second-thoughts, we publish those words. This week, we write on less.
Go.

We are about to really understand what this word means. We are about to find out how wonderful it can feel to have to slow down. We are about to see just how little we actually need, how much less we can live with. How much less we can be doing, how much less it takes to be happy. We're about to find out the real meaning of the word.

So, as we try and stay safe, healthy, and do less running around, less driving, fewer group activities, less of all that we normally do each and every single day, remember all we can do.

Like take some walks and go for runs and be with our little families and create real mealtimes together, and talk, and read, and play games, and ride bikes, and play with our dogs, and take some pictures, and create some family movie nights on a Tuesday, and leisurely sip our coffee. As a friend of mine posted today, nature is still open.

This might be one of those times that we look back and remember how scary this was. We might also remember how cozy it felt to be together and being forced to not go anywhere. We might also remember how less always means more.

I fully understand that there are so many that do not have this opportunity and this retreat will be devastating. Remember that we have to take care of each other, be safe and be loving. Do more by doing less.

Stop.

Every Friday we unite for five minutes to write on one word. Only five minutes, that's all we get, that's all we have. And then, right where we are, no edits or second-thoughts, we publish those words. This week, we write on safe.
Go.

I want you to always feel that this is your base
that we are your comfort
that this house turned home is your foundation and your rock
that here, inside these walls, surrounded by love is where you feel safe.

I too feel safe here
my most comfortable
my most cozy.

I want this to be a place you can always feel right at home,
right where you belong.
Because although we will challenge you
although we will ask you to rise to greatness
you can also come here to rest your head
and your tired eyes
and your bones that need healing.

You can come here to recharge and regroup before you head back out and do you.
Home is where you are safe,
where you are loved
where you have a team.

Home and safe should all be one word here.
Interchangeable even.
Because I built a life of love and safety
even during our times of stress and confusion and feeling lost.
Home was my compass
home is where I feel most safe.

Home was not always defined as safe for me,
which is why as an adult I need to make sure it now is.
I will not allow it to feel any other way
I will remove all hate and fear from these walls
I will allow only us, the real us, to live here.

Home will always be your safe haven.
Your refuge and your calm.
A place for us to reconnect and remind ourselves that we are in this together,
we are all on the same team.
You are safe here little faces, you are safe.

Stop.

Every Friday we unite for five minutes to write on one word. Only five minutes, that's all we get, that's all we have. And then, right where we are, no edits or second-thoughts, we publish those words. This week, we write on present.
Go.

I always feel I need to be present to make you feel important.
But the truth is, my presence also makes you feel safe.
It makes you feel like you are heard,
like your voice matters.
Like the distracted mom doesn't have her mind somewhere else.
I am here, with you and for you.
I am here, standing strong with you.
And I know, deep in my soul, that if I am here for the little things turned big in your mind,
you will feel like I am here for the big things we can turn little later.
And the best part, I don't need to know all of the answers.
I just need to be your ear.
The one you feel you can turn to to say almost anything.
The one you feel so comfortable and not judged by.
Because if I am here, with you now, I will be there with you then.
If I am here for the "she picked on me"
If I am here for the "he hurt me"
If I am here for the "my teacher said the funniest thing today"
If I am here for the "my test was harder than I thought"
If I am here for the "lunch and recess were so much fun"
then you will come to me with the "he broke up with me"
then you will come to me with the "it hurts to go to school"
then you will come to me with the "I feel like I have no friends"
then you will come to me with the "this is where I want to go to college"
then you will come to me with the "I hurt" or the "I feel great" or the "I need a good cry right now".

Because this mom won't judge
won't be distracted
won't be missing from your life.
This mom is here, present with you.
So you are always safe, with me.

Stop