Today

Even if it's only for five minutes, I will believe in my own self-worth and not seek external validation of same.

It's Corny

But the lyrics for the Bruno Mars song "Just The Way You Are" always make me think of wM as a baby. And I hope that as an adult, she finds someone she loves who feels the same way about her.

Oh her eyes, her eyes
Make the stars look like they're not shining
Her hair, her hair
Falls perfectly without her trying

She's so beautiful
And I tell her every day

Yeah I know, I know
When I compliment her
She wont believe me
And it's so, it's so
Sad to think she don't
see what I see

But every time she asks me
Do I look okay?
I say

When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stares for awhile
Cause girl you're amazing
Just the way you are

Her nails, her nails
I could kiss them all
day if she'd let me
Her laugh, her laugh
She hates but I think it's so sexy

She's so beautiful
And I tell her every day

Oh you know, you know, you know
I'd never ask you to change
If perfect's what you're searching for
Then just stay the same

So don't even bother asking
If you look okay
You know I say

When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stares for awhile
Cause girl you're amazing
Just the way you are

The way you are
The way you are
Girl you're amazing
Just the way you are

When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stares for awhile
Cause girl you're amazing
Just the way you are

All Is Well That Ends Well

Friend came to watch a class of wM's extracurricular. Turns out it isn't her cup of tea.

*phew*

Troubling Trouble

Yes, I know the old adage about not troubling trouble 'til it troubles you. But I'm an anxious worrier. My mind races through the myriad of possible outcomes and fixates on the less than desirable ones. Yes, I'm working on letting that go. But until then....

My child is typically on the trailing end of the learning curve. Walking, talking, reading etc. On the curve, mind you, but wM tends to lag just a touch. Marching to the beat of her own drummer. She waits until she's good and ready thank. you. very. much.

Many of her friends, however, are truly gifted in one or more areas. A couple are reading 3 grade levels above what's expected. Some have perfect pitch. Some excel at math. Some are super athletic. It bums wM out when she notices the gap. We try to focus on individual accomplishment and less on comparison. "No matter how good you are at something, there will always be someone better and worse." It is important to me as a parent, however, that wM have something of her own in which she can excel.

Lucky for us, one of extracurricular physical activities that delights wM is something in which she is progressing slightly ahead of the curve. Go team wM!

Here's the sticking point. One of her closer friends (who excels markedly in a few areas) wishes to join wM in this extracurricular. wM seems happy with the idea that her friend will be in her class. But a little niggling part in the back of my brain can't help but be a little worried that her friend will eclipse her and take the shine off of the one thing that's been her's alone until now.

Can anyone out there tell me how to shut that part of the brain off?

Please?

Enjoyment In Lieu Of Resentment

It came into focus for me, over the break, that my mindset has a habit of embracing resentment. in lieu of embracing enjoyment. I'd rather resent that someone broke the "no gift" rule than enjoy the generosity they offered me. I'd rather resent the time demanded of me than enjoy the moment of the companionship.

Granted, in some of those cases it would take me considerable effort to find the enjoyment. (For example in the situation where one is not particularly fond of one's companion.) For the most part, however, there is some low hanging enjoyment that I am capable of grasping.

While I continue last year's jouney of letting go, I will add to the list the idea of letting go of resentment to make room for accepting enjoyment.

Believe

Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Wishing you the very best in 2011!