I was laying in bed before falling asleep last night... Thinking about
my goals.
All of a sudden a flood of images ran across the screen of my mind..
It usually starts with the words... "I got a GREAT idea!"
And goes something like this...
Mom, let's play a game...
Mom, tell me a story.
Mom, tell me all about bodies and the bones?
Mom, let's play airport.
Mom, let's have a band - you be the singer and I'll be the guitar
player.
Mom, let's play pirates.
Mom, let's have a race with the cars.
Mom, let's have a dance contest. You sit there and watch my moves.
(Skye's favorite!)
Mom, let's play with the markers.
Mom, snuggle with me.. (this request doesn't come often with a busy
4 year old boy .. And this is my FAVORITE)
Mom, let's bake cookies.
Mom, let's go to the toy store!
Mom, let's play tennis.
Mom, let's solve the mystery. You be Daphne and Velma and Scooby
and I'll be Shaggy and Freddy!
Mom, let's play doctor. You be the patient, I'll be the doctor.
Mom, let's have crazy mommy time! (newest addition!)
I'm thinking of my choice to be an entrepreneur.
I'm thinking of my very favorite moments, and happiest times in my
day.
I'm thinking of my greatest joy.
I am thinking of that when my son makes the statement, he knows
that I will usually, very enthusiastically, say YES!
Earlier today on the way home from school, he said Mom, I got a great
idea! ...
I knew it would be, as it always is, a great adventure.
He saw my reaction and said, let's go to the Castle Park!
The Castle Park! Cool - this does sound like fun. He even assured me
we could get lunch there... As it was just after 12noon.
Now, driving down Sunset Blvd in Hollywood, CA, my nav unit had no
idea where "Castle Park" was...
And Skye could only tell me that "I passed it!" The funny thing was for
a few minutes he was guiding me.. Or so I thought.
"Turn here" , "now go there"
Knowing he has his dad's sense of direction, I was allowing him to
lead me.
But when we did a loop several times - and all he could say was "you
passed it" - I knew I had to do something different.
All of a sudden, I hear a small voice from the back seat say with a
defeated sign, " I guess that wasn't a very good idea that I had..."
My heart nearly broke in two. I had never heard those words come
from him. and thought only adults knew how to say these words to
themselves..
It did leave it wide open for a great conversation to ensue,
distinguishing good ideas, from mom not knowing where the heck I
was going!
Now, I don't believe in giving a child a false sense of reality, with
encouraging him to believe that everything he says is a good idea.
The parents out there know well, often times at bedtime he will
attempt to use the "I have a good idea" to stay up an extra hour, or
get 2 or 3 more stories ...
However, during this time of play, I knowingly allow his creative mind
to GO FOR IT... And Great ideas are in abundance!
I am wondering about the parents, who, dealing with the day to day
stressors of life: a boss, the employees, the bills, providing for their
family..
The stressors of life that actually make the good ideas ..not soo good,
and actually take the fun out of the free acknowledgement to their
child.
With SOOO much gratitude in my heart for choosing in to being an
entrepreneur. And for having mentors teach me how to be a success
at it.
Thank goodness someone told me I could do it.
My little man has some great ideas to share ... And for that matter, so
do I!
