How Do You Parent?

You know I'm always on the hunt for the perfect life motto. And with those two crazy kids up there living in my house, life is always changing and no motto seems to last very long.

Most recently I thought of "Trying to find the balance between overbearing and neglectful" as that phrase that fit me best. Isn't that genius?

I have been a faithful reader of Sorta Crunchy, (*whispers* although I'm not all that crunchy myself) and Megan's recent post on boundaries absolutely spoke to me. As I read her discussion on Jaime's post on Licking the Floor, I had a eureka moment and stopped dead in my tracks.

When you read that post to the end, you see that Jaime is careful to say: "I parent them today so that they won’t be shocked when I parent them later. Five years from now and ten years from now and twenty years from now."

Ah yes, that's better.

I Don't Know Where Your Luggage Is

Last night at bible study one of the ladies shared a story that really hit home for me. I try to live my life as someone who can be described as "non-judgemental", but sometimes I hear those voices in my head saying things that don't quite qualify.

Her story:

On a cruise ship to several small remote islands, she couldn't help notice a group of young ladies swimming in what could only be their undergarments. They were certainly "covered" but what they were wearing was NOT swimwear. She was appalled that they would wear that in public!

The next day she saw them again and couldn't help herself- she leaned over to the stranger next to her and said, "I can't believe what they are wearing! I would never allow my daughter to swim in that!"

The stranger leaned back and said "I believe their luggage was lost....."

She said she was dumbstruck. She realized they were making the best of the hand they had been dealt, enjoying their vacation the best they could.

So the next time you find yourself judging, remember,

You don't know where their luggage is.

Motto for Summer 2009

Agree?

My Newest Motto

Newest Motto

Always on the hunt for my own personal mission/vision statement, I found this and thought it was perfect:

Trying to arrange my life so I don't even have to be present.

Absolutely Final: Sasha's Motto

I love Jesus, but I drink a little.

This is my new motto.

My New Motto

How perfect is this? Me to a T!