Category: self-worth

A guiding question: “Is it reasonable?”

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I’m sure that you’ve had that moment when you’re trying to rush out the door already late and your child turns to you and says “I want to take my Elsa doll.” The pressure of timing is weighing on one side of you and yet your little one has just made a simple request. It very well could have been the words “I want to put my shoe on myself” or “I’m not done playing with my blocks” that were coming out of their mouth. The words that always ring in my ears are “Is it reasonable?”

If I say that I want my children to become strong and independent, then I need to build their confidence and self-worth in the small moments throughout our day. It is in those moments in which I can honor their request – their voice – that I am showing them that their opinion and preferences matter to me. I want them to feel comfortable speaking their mind and knowing that I care and that I’ll listen. It is my hope that validating their independence in these small moments will give them the courage to come to me as they grow older and life becomes more challenging.

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Do you choose a child-centered life or family-centered life?

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I was 34 years old when I became a mother. I had traveled around the world, visiting six continents, enjoyed strong friendships and had left a challenging career in Silicon Valley to move closer to family in Pennsylvania. I loved my life. At the same time, I felt called to motherhood and welcomed this new chapter in my life with a joyful heart. I was ready and open to loving a child.

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Your Children’s Eyes: Windows into their Soul & Out to the World

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My youngest daughter has deep brown eyes that are framed by long, beautiful lashes. This was certainly a gift from her father’s Indian heritage. I have spent a lot of time looking into her eyes not only hoping to find understanding and compassion for how she is feeling in that moment, but also to validate and acknowledge her worth. She is a very loquacious three-year old now, but especially in her early days before she could speak from her heart, I wanted to understand her on a deep level. I found her eyes to be a window into her soul.

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