If you have ever wished to view yourself through your children’s eyes, there is a way. But be careful. You might be surprised by their point of view.
For Mother’s Day earlier this year my husband helped our two older children create darling books, with each page bearing a question about me for them to answer and space to illustrate the book. After turning our 6-year-old loose to write her own answers, my husband took dictation from our 3-year-old, including his responses verbatim. In the end, the project was as enlightening as it was endearing.
For example, up until this point, I had no idea that my favorite food was broccoli. Nor did I realize I gave the slightest impression that this was the case. Actually his official answer to the question was:
“Her favorite food is broccoli and soup because she eats it a lot. She also likes fruit because I watch her eat it.”
For anyone who knows me, such an answer — specifically the broccoli assertion — couldn’t be further from the truth. Oh, I know the importance of vegetables and a balanced diet — even more than that, I know the importance of teaching your children those things. But that doesn’t mean I always act on what I know.
Favorite foods for me typically range somewhere in the vicinity of pasta, homemade rolls, baked goods, popcorn and candy. Yet somehow I have given my son a very different impression and I have to say, I’m really proud.
As for my daughter’s answer to the favorite food question: Yogurt. Also healthy (hooray!) although in this case I can totally see why she would have that impression. I have a Greek yogurt with my breakfast nearly every day.
Another eye-opening response came regarding the question:
If she had extra time she likes to…
My daughter’s reply: “Take a nap.”
For some reason, this one hurt a little. Not because it isn’t true. I do love a good nap. To quote George Costanza from “Seinfeld,” “Sometimes a good nap is the only thing getting me out of bed in the morning.”
Come one moms, we’ve all been there, especially during the newborn stage.
But this tidbit of enlightenment from my daughter made me realize that I don’t want to give the impression of laziness to my children. My husband was quick to point out that it didn’t say that I got to take naps very often (because I don’t) only that I would like to nap, were I suddenly given some extra time. Still, this insight was one of several factors that pushed me in the direction of setting some new sleep goals.
My son’s response to this question made me happy.
“If she has extra time she likes to take Vivian and me on a walk. She likes going on a picnic. She likes singing songs.”
True statements. Very true. But depending on the day, I fear the nap might still win.
Lisa Larson is a freelance writer, mother of three and lover of all things that combine peanut butter and chocolate. Keep up with her via Twitter @LisaGLarson and www.facebook.com/larsonlisa or by checking out her web page at www.lisaglarson.com
