I immensely proud of my sixth-grade daughter. Aila deserves a participation trophy. Not the kind of participation trophy that is given out to every kid on the soccer team just for showing up. Personally, I am not a fan of these. I am taking about a trophy for participating in life.
Parenting is hard. We bring to parenting generation biases and beliefs. We worry for the influences in our child’s life. Rather frequently, though, we are awakened to the fact that the experiences and relationships our child is making are shaping who they are becoming for a greater Purpose.
Monday, she called me from school to tell me that, if she didn’t take the bus home, she was staying after school for something (it wasn’t clear over my car’s lousy hands-free system) and would need a ride. It was no problem for me, because I would be at the middle school anyhow for wrestling practice.
After school, she was excited to tell me about the club and why she was there. She stayed for the Gay-Straight Alliance. She has several friends and teachers in the LBGTQ+ community, and she wanted to support them. She shared several of their stories—rather sad stories. She also shared how grateful she is to know that she has loving and supportive parent who would love her no matter what. It touched me. Admittedly (shamefully), I harbored some concern over the influence these relationships might be having, but the reality is that they have not been in any way negative. Instead, they have revealed and cultivated my daughter’s compassion and empathy for others. They have afforded her the opportunity to participate in life at a most deeply Spiritual level. She deserves a participation trophy!
I list as my personal values: faith, family, friends, growth, health, and impacting others. I am teaching myself to the practice of allowing space for the soul to speak. In sharing my values with my children and allowing space for our souls to speak, it appears that we are sharing a path toward a better way—a better life.
I need not worry or fear for my children. I protect them when necessary. I guide them where I can. Above all, I trust that they will find Purpose and meaning in life through the experiences and relationships they are making.
Perhaps, we should give participation trophies.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!