My Gravestone Won’t Say “She Was a Successful Business Woman”

My children have unknowingly become the moderators of my work/life balance. As parents, we focus on teaching our children and preparing them for the future. The by-product of parenting, if we pay close attention, is the lessons we learn from our tiny humans.

Looking back, there were lots of cues offered to me from my kids. As early as 2-years old, my son would close the lid on my laptop and say, “no ‘puter”. Then, I would sometimes listen. Now that he is 5-years old, and those years have flown by, I close the computer every time and accept that heart-filling snuggle, that might prove elusive in another 10 years.

This winter, my 8-year old daughter asked if she could cut-back on her public speaking lessons, because it was taking away from family time. At 8 years old, she already possessed the ability to balance - that work-life balance that I had strived for, over 2 decades. I immediately agreed and praised her for her insight, bravery and honesty.

One thing I know for sure, when it is my time to leave this earth, my gravestone won’t read, “Here lies a successful Business-women, and author, a diligent housekeeper and gardener.” Daily I remind myself to prioritize appropriately, so that my legacy is a committed and supportive Mom, a loving Wife-Daughter-Sister and a supportive Friend. I languish in my accomplishments, but they alone do not define me.

What will your gravestone say about how you spent your days?

Comments

It Only Takes One

My son's daycare had five amazing, 8-foot sunflowers growing in their garden this summer. My own sunflowers didn't do very well so we asked if we could have some of the seeds from daycare to plant in our garden next summer. Shawna began to harvest the seeds from the faces of the sunflowers. She took some home with her and a creature destroyed most of them - only a few remaining in their shells. She returned to daycare to learn that the heads of the remaining sunflowers had been stolen right off their stalks in the yard of the daycare. The ladies were upset and disappointed that they might not be able to carry on the tradition of their sunflowers. Cornell Sunflower - see the attempt at taping the stem ... When my husband got home from work today he told me their story and asked,"hey - do you have any more of those books with the 'Cornell Sunflower' story?" A story I wrote was published by 'Chicken Soup' and the similarities to th...

Elvis the Cat

Elvis the cat went missing last Thursday night. For 14 years Elvis the Cat lived with me indoors. He was afraid of the outside. Due to kidney disease, he has been living on borrowed time but was still vibrant, fat and happy. Lately, he seemed desperate to get outside. I had been warned he might run away to die. I searched for two days and nights, was sad, and began to look back …. We met at a farm in 1999. He was undernourished, with mites and fleas. I was embarking on a new, independent life. We knew instantly that we belonged to each other. I nursed him back to life – physically, and he nourished my spirit. I didn’t hear him meow for the first few years of his life. I always thought it was because I saw to his every need before he knew he had it. At night, he would sleep curled in my arms. If he heard a noise, he would perch on the end of my bed between me and a potenti...

Cornell Community Soup

“Cornell Community Soup” is more than just a metaphor for the melting pot of cultures, religions, beliefs and politics we embody. The Village of Cornell is nestled in the eastern boarder of Markham, Ontario, surrounded by sister villages that continue the tradition of service and support throughout the community. I have lived on my block in Cornell for 16 years. Bigger houses with lower prices from the north continue to tempt, yet the warm hug of this community always keeps us home. In anticipation of another exciting Blue Jay’s post season game, a pot of turkey soup is simmering on our stove. Turkey from the Markham Butcher , and carrots and garlic from Reesor Farm . Both local small business run by families who suffered losses this month. The Markham Butcher and his wife lost their precious baby son earlier this month. An unfathomable tragedy. Reesor Farm was targeted by trespassers and looters on Thanksgiving Mon...

JustMOMsensations

Search This Blog