Of all the gifts my mother gave me, not the least of which was an excellent childhood, I'd have to say that 'enthusiasm' was by far one of the most valuable. She taught me not to miss the parade, if you know what I mean. You don't always have to actually JOIN the parade, if that's not your personality- but you should SHOW UP and cheer and laugh and sing along, if only to yourself. -c

I simply love this quote, not much else to add to that. I like it for me as both the parent and the child I once was, but still embody. I too had an excellent childhood, or at least a plenty-good-enough one, but I wasn't taught the rest of this. I had to pick it up for myself in the parades of life. And I have to encourage my children in this direction.

As an adult, once when I was going through what might possibly have been a difficult situation, someone said to me to view it as if I were sitting in a parade stand. I should think of it as if I were (or had been) watching it pass by, not as if I were in it. I thought that was very helpful to remember. I had sort of felt that way at the time it was happening, not exactly removed from it, but not within it either. It helped me feel freer of any repercussions. And it seemed a kind of grace.

Karin

A mother should give her children a superabundance of enthusiasm, that after they have lost all they are sure to lose in mixing with the world, enough may still remain to prompt and support them through great actions. Julius C. Hare (1795-1855) English Cleric

Originally posted 2007-03-17 07:46:23.

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Inspiration and creativity, Joy and happiness, Just thinking, Parenting, Quotations, Relationships, Spirituality and God