Celebrate Small Successes

Ever since Trin was old enough to read, she wanted to be a teacher. Well, actually she wanted to be a cowboy-dolphin-trainer at Miami Seaquarium at first, but by age seven, she was sold on teacher. She has steadily helped me in our homeschooling by organizing, teaching, encouraging, and consistently coming up with incredible ideas of her own and finding even more on Pinterest. Not only does she come up with ideas, but she actually follows through and initiates some incredible experiences for the younger children. Honestly, she and Glory keep me going in my homeschooling journey.

So over the last few months as she has been making new friends in her Sunday School class, she has been very interested in their fifth grade leader program where they initiate fifth graders into leading the younger elementary grades and assisting the pastors and teachers. Trinity kept on my case until I had recovered from child birth, made it through our Gold Star Christmas project, the holidays and finally the New Year. Her first step into this program was an interview with the children’s pastor.

She had to brave this one alone. Excited for weeks, when the day finally came she was ready to roll out the door by 8:30, even though our appointment was not until 10:00. Hair done, lip gloss on, and shiny flats, we rode all the way downtown in near silence. She was nervous.

After she made it through the interview and subsequently we both agreed to the responsibilities of her new role, we decided to celebrate. We rode a tiny trolley around downtown and over the bridge to Palm Beach. We ate at a swanky little Parisian cafe of her choosing and even toasted with sparkling apple cider. We held hands as we explored a few shops and I continuously reminded her of how excited I was for her in this next step of her dream.

Moms and dads, I know it’s tough. After all my years as a Stay at Home Mom and now as a Work at Home Mom, homeschooling, sports, husband, social requirements….it is not easy to stop and smell the sweet roses of success in our children’s lives. Many times we are so busy getting from one event or practice or commitment to the next that we forget to really appreciate the small and even some of the bigger things in our children’s lives or steps they are taking in their dreams. Please…take the time. Stop and enjoy the journey. Appreciate the moments. Take it in with gratitude. It means so much to our babies as they grow up that we not only teach and train them but that we CELEBRATE with them. It’s so worth it.

And my little special date with Trinity is one I will never forget. My precious little Trin Trin Trin, making her next step in her goals and working so hard every day. What a joy.