What if we're doing better than we think?
No. 68 - Kindness, gratitude, and a cleared plate in the sink.
Earlier this week, my son asked for a snack after school. While he was still eating, I had to step away to finish up some work. When I came back, I found his empty plate… sitting neatly in the sink. No reminder, no prompting—just a tiny act of responsibility that made me pause.
That same evening, after dinner, we told our boys we couldn’t play just yet because we had to clean up. Without missing a beat, my son looked at me and asked, “What can I do to help?” My jaw dropped.
If your house is anything like ours, it can feel like a constant swirl of noise and chaos—someone’s always yelling about a toy, fighting over who had it first, or crying over the “wrong” color cup. And in those moments, it’s easy to wonder if we’re failing. Like, is any of this working?
But then—there are these small, beautiful glimmers. The kind that show up when we’re not even looking for them.
Like when they help carry in the groceries, straining under the weight of the giant paper towel pack, but determined to help anyway.
Or when my oldest helped his little brother with his socks and shoes so we could get out the door on time—or when my youngest brought his big brother his lovey after a fall, placing it gently in his lap like he knew exactly what would make it better.
They wave to neighbors walking by.
They thank the mail lady.
They bow their heads at bedtime and won’t let us leave the room until they’ve made it through their (very long) list of things they’re grateful for.
They’re watching us. Learning from what we say and do—even when we think they’re not paying attention.
Yes, we get frustrated. We yell sometimes. We rush through the motions, lose our patience, say things we wish we could take back.
But then these little moments break through the chaos and remind us: we’re doing something right.
We’re raising kind, thoughtful, grateful little humans. And honestly? That’s all we can really hope for.
If you’re looking for a beach read this summer, this is it. I finished it in just a few days and it was a great escape. It’s filled with charming characters, a sweet storyline, and not too steamy. Perfect to read by the pool.
My SIL introduced me to this brand that apparently everyone is loving lately, so I decided to give their Zero Pore Pads a try and I’m so impressed. I feel like they’ve helped brighten my face and reduce the blackheads on my nose.
I discovered this kids yoga channel on YouTube (which apparently everyone has known about but me?) but it’s kept my kids entertained for hours this week.
Happy Friday, Friends! I hope you’re kicking off the long weekend with a cool poolside beverage! 🍹
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Hard agree on this.
"They’re watching us. Learning from what we say and do—even when we think they’re not paying attention."
Ain't that the truth. This is one of the wildest realizations, as a newish parent--that every little thing we do gets an echo. Thank you for this