It's the little things that count!

Dearest Clarity,
Lately I've been feeling all this anxiety about raising my daughter. Am I teaching her the right things? Will I know what to do when she's a teenager? Am I being a good roll model? I could go on and on and on. I know I'm doing my best but sometimes it just feels so overwhelming. I was talking to another mother today, who also raised her kids on her own. I told her how I was feeling, and she said the best advice she could give me, was to remember that it's the little things that count. So I thought back to the little rules and routines my brother and I had growing up. For example, eating dinner together at the table. A perfect time to check in with each other as a family, to talk about your day and have some quality time. Having to put your dish on the kitchen counter when your finished eating, and for the older kids washing your dish when you're done. Making your bed in the morning, putting your dirty clothes in the hamper when you change, cleaning your room every Saturday. These are all things kids can start doing at a very young age. My daughter is almost five, and these are things that I have started to expect from her in the past year. Also things like thanking the crossing guard when he/she helps you cross the street. Holidays when your kids get lots of new things like birthdays or Christmas, together give some of their old toys or clothes to a shelter or charity. The point is no parent is perfect and trying to do it all on your own is never gonna be easy but making sure you do the little things can make a big difference. These are all things that can help teach our kids to be responsible, respectful and thankful. I want to thank that beautiful mother today for putting things in perspective for me, and reminding me that it's the little things that count!