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Savoring the Small Stuff

March 4, 2011 By Amy @ Positively Splendid

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Thanks to the makers of Pine-Sol® for sponsoring my writing. A study shows a clean smelling home can help children succeed, so Pine-Sol® is supporting Reading is Fundamental (RIF) this year. Click “Like” on Pine-Sol®’s Facebook page here and they will donate books to RIF!

There has been something weighing on my heart recently: a desire to provide all of you with something meaningful, and something I feel genuinely passionate about. Friends, I can say without any hesitation that if I had to whittle it all down to a singular thing I care about accomplishing through Positively Splendid it is to tell you all this:

It is possible for all of us to make something extraordinary out of a seemingly ordinary life.

In the midst of car pools and diaper changes, doing laundry and doing dishes, dealing with commutes that make us want to pull our hair out, or trying to meet seemingly impossible deadlines day in and day out, it can often be so hard to wrap our minds around how crucial it is to stop and process the poignant beauty of everyday life.

Today the little shoes that I always seem to trip over in our entryway are a never-ending source of frustration.

But in 5, 15, 50 years? Those same shoes will be something I pull from a forgotten box in an attic corner, and they will be magical.

I will remember teaching Jack to ties those laces.
Reminding Charlotte that her shoes are (once again) on the wrong feet.
Holding sweet Cecily’s hand as she toddles alongside me with her shoe-clad feet.

And, you know what? I will yearn – ache – for just one more sweet day of experiencing life as it is right this instant. For every detail of it. Even for the shoes piled up in front of the door.

If I could make just one promise to myself, it would be to savor these days. To own every second that ticks by as time marches on and my children grow up before my very eyes. I think sometimes I feel pressure to do something spectacular with my children each day – grand gestures to enlighten and delight, to provide a framework for their future success. But the reality is, for my little ones (and probably for yours, too) the most grand gestures of all that we can offer them might appear to us as mundane. Sitting down to read their favorite stories for the umpteenth time. Dancing like a fool in the living room to their favorite songs. Taking time out of a busy day to play a game with them or to make a batch of cookies (and to not cringe at the mess made in the process!). To just be here, to be completely present. To let them know that they matter.

It is often said that a child’s success starts at home. I hope that for my children, a passion to appreciate the small things in life will someday open doors for their greatest achievements!

Blessings,

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Don’t forget to click over to Pine-Sol®’s Facebook page to support our children’s success. I was selected for this Pine-Sol® sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

Amy @ Positively Splendid
Amy @ Positively Splendid

Having grown up in a home brimming with sewing notions and paintbrushes, Amy has a deep love for all things creative. On any given day, you’ll find her knee-deep in her latest creative endeavor, with projects ranging from sewing and crafts to home decor and kid-friendly ideas. Amy believes that everyone, regardless of skill level or experience, possesses the ability to create something beautiful, and Positively Splendid was born of her passion for helping others harness their innate creative potential.

EVEN MORE GREAT IDEAS JUST FOR YOU!

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Family, Life

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. [email protected] says

    March 4, 2011 at 2:05 pm

    Well said Amy! I’ve been thinking some of those same thoughts this week. A family friend of mine who was great at creating special everyday moments recently passed away and it’s reminded me to savor the small things too.

    I wrote a bit about it yesterday. http://sweetpeaandjojo.blogspot.com/2011/03/living-life-crafty-food.html

    hope you have a great weekend.

    sarah

  2. Bonnie says

    March 4, 2011 at 2:41 pm

    This made me choke on my tears! Thanks for reminding me! I don’t want my little ones to grow up and go away, and here I get so annoyed with them…

  3. Sanctuary Home says

    March 4, 2011 at 2:52 pm

    Hi Amy,
    My three are all grown up now…sniffle… Here is my post about “The Empty Nest” http://sanctuaryhomebysusancooke.blogspot.com/2008/08/empty-nest.html
    I hope you’ll enjoy reading my thoughts about children growing up. BTW…I’m your newest follower…I love your blog, you are amazingly creative and talented. I look forward to more craft tutorials…absolutely love them!!!
    Susan : )

  4. Michele {The Scrap Shoppe} says

    March 4, 2011 at 4:34 pm

    This is so sweet, Amy! And an excellent reminder for thus of us who do still have little ones in the house. 🙂

  5. Catherine Nelson says

    March 4, 2011 at 4:48 pm

    My mom always repeats the story of how my grandma refused to wash our little handprints off of her glass storm door when we would leave after a visit. Now that my kids are all in elementary school, I do miss some of those moments (although the shoes are still piled by the front door). 😉

  6. morrest1101 says

    March 4, 2011 at 5:16 pm

    Absoutley Beautiful! Those thoughts are constantly on my mind… as my oldest is turning 6 (YIKES… ALREADY) at the end of the month and my baby just turned 5 months.

  7. Kelley says

    March 5, 2011 at 3:32 am

    Amen.

    Love,
    A mom whose oldest turns 27 next week and whose 24 year old baby will say “I do” next month.

  8. Holly says

    March 5, 2011 at 3:52 am

    Beautiful Amy! I have these same thoughts and feelings and it has made me step away from the computer to thoroughly savor and enjoy these fleeting moments.

  9. rushartist says

    March 5, 2011 at 3:58 pm

    Thank you. I needed to read this in such a bad way this week.

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