Positive Reinforcement

Before, I get into my next little segment, let me just begin by saying that I love being a mother. I do. However, it is really hard. It is a thankless and exhausting job that I usually feel like I am not doing particularly well no matter how hard I try or work at it. I get lots of "You hate me", or "you are a meanie!", and whining and complaining and so forth. And I am the first to admit that dividing my time 5 ways has been a struggle. Most of the time I feel like I am barely holding it all together (or that I'm not at all.) However, every once in awhile one of the kids surprises me. Like when I was pulling all of the papers and things out of Jonas' backpack and found this book that he had made at school about dragons and magic and stuff. I opened it and found this dedication at the front:

(Sorry for the poor photo quality - it says, "to Mom and Dad for putting the magic in my life")

Well...maybe I'm doing OK after all. (And I don't mean to say that I don't ever get positive reinforcement in this role, because I do. Listening to my kids play and laugh or seeing their faces light up when they see me, their sweet hugs and sweet words make it all worth it. But getting a little extra doesn't hurt.)

Also, we are always working to teach our children to be good people, and often worry (based on their behavior) that we are failing miserably, but in this book, I got a little glimpse that maybe some of it has sunk in after all. Jonas wrote a "code of behavior". It says, "I want to be my best by being kind to other people, doing my best work, listening" (Oh, maybe there is hope!!!! If only being kind to other people could also include his sisters.) He also wrote: "1. Don't underestimate self, 2. Be proud of your work, 3. Stand up for others" Really, if Jonas could follow this code of behavior all the time, I would think he was doing a pretty good job.

Nothing like a little positive reinforcement to make me realize how blessed I am. I am so grateful to be a mom to these wonderful kids.