A few years ago I was selling Eli’s Lids in a boutique. Since doing a boutique makes for a long day, you get to know the people at the booths next to you really well. At this one, the gal next to me had older children and I was asking her if she had any advice for me. Don’t you just love to glean things from people who are one stage ahead of you? Anyway, she was saying that her and her siblings don’t get along with each other as adults so it is a huge priority for her to encourage her children to be friends. One of the ways she does this is to verbally tell her children that the reason behind their kind actions is love. So if one of her children brings the other one a glass of water she says something like this, “Eli, that was so kind of you. Cora Jane, Eli brought you a glass of water because he loves you.”

I didn’t really think much of her advice at the time but in the months to follow, her words would pop up in my mind. It’s easy for my children to see that I love them when I’m reading them books or building blocks, but I wanted them to realize that love was also the motivation for me cooking dinner and cleaning and all the other non-fun-mom-job things.

Then I got it. My kiddos need to find love in the little things.

Because isn’t life just made up of lots of little moments?

I’m watching my children grow in body and mind and I get to watch their friendship grow as well.

After that boutique, I started being intentional about phrases like this:

“Daddy goes to work everyday because he is showing us love by providing for our family.”

“Cora Jane is showing you love by clearing your place after dinner.”

“Eli is showing you love by reaching your cup on the top shelf.”

I’m never really sure if things stick in those precious little heads. (Moms, Do you ever wonder if all our work is making any kind of difference??)

Then one day I made some chocolate dipped oreos (dip any cookie into melted chocolate chips and add some sprinkles), and gave one to each kiddo after lunch. As I was cleaning up, I overheard Eli telling Cora Jane, “Mommy added these sprinkles because she loves us. She is showing us love. Sometimes people who love each other do extra little things for the people they love.”

Mission accomplished. 

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