Reality Observed

How many of us take time to just sit and watch our surroundings?  To actually take TIME to put the phones down, step away from the idle gossip and  observe?  I have been a people watcher since I was very young and only because my parents provided me many opportunities to do just that, OBSERVE.  My favorite place to do this was always at the ocean.  For the rest of you Northern Cali Peeps, BODEGA BAY!  There was just something so calming about watching the beach goers and the waves.  I often forget that my parents were allowing me to be a kid.  To have a childhood.  To hold on to some sort of innocence in a world that was changing.  I say that because I recently had an opportunity to share some beach time with my sixteen year old daughter and my ten year old niece.  What I observed on the beautiful sandy Southern California Beach both took my breath away and saddened me at the same time.

My sixteen year old little girl, OK she's very grown and very curvy, acted like a child and not a teenager.  She was the happiest to bounce in the waves and build in the sand rather than work on her tan or check out boys.  I watched as she gave her full attention to my niece, not the surounding "landscape".  I had to stop and think, when did this world become more about the Kardashians and less about the Kennedy's?  When did we stop doing our job as Parents and start thinking we were "Friends" with our kids?  I know the exact moment when I actually started being a Parent and stopped being my two older boy's friend.  It was when my little princess was born and we found a home with God, like he was ever lost!

Those of you who read this and know my journey, know that I was messed up and made some bad choices in life.  For those of you who just joined this journey with me, now you know, I was beyond hot mess from my 20s to my 30s.  I wanted change when I realized that my little angel NEEDED a mother not a friend.  I can honestly say that without Celebrate Recovery I might have missed out on life as mom. 

We need to stop watching Reality TV and live in Reality with our own familys.  The reward of focusing on what's in front of you, what amazing blessings experiencing life with children can be, and comfort in raising healthy young adults is beyond value.  I will never be mother of the year, but I'll never stop trying either! My success will be well adjusted adult children, who know the value of childhood.

So today - OBSERVE, sit back and watch your young adults be young.  Let your teenager jump in waves or sink in the sand.  Blow bubbles until your lips hurt!  Put the technology down and pick up Real Life, because childhood is short.  Remember the Kennedys and forget about the Kar who's!  If we observe others, others are observing us!