Parents, if you want wonderful pictures of your children, never teach them to say "cheese"! Please learn from my mistake or you will have thousands of photos just like mine - squinted eyes, scrunched up noses, clenched teeth, and an image that just screams "say cheez!!!". Join me while I search for that one perfect shot that doesn't conjure up images of dairy products. Oh, and unless you like that *messy* look, you'll probably want to clean their faces before you snap away. I never seem to remember myself.

An imporant sidenote is to make sure you document your life! Recording the little details of the who, what, where, when, & why makes for wonderful stories and captures your life for years to come. Because if you are like me, you'll forget it all 5 minutes later!

Monday, April 21, 2008

POTD - Week 17: Children

I love quotes, inspirational messages and the artist/poet/writer SARK. This is one of my all time favorites:

How To Really Love A Child

Be there. Say yes as often as possible. Let them bang on pots and pans. If they’re crabby, put them in water. If they’re unlovable, love yourself. Realize how important it is to be a child. Go to a movie theater in your pajamas. Read books out loud with joy. Invent pleasures together. Remember how really small they are. Giggle a lot. Surprise them. Say no when necessary. Teach feelings. Heal your own inner child. Learn about parenting. Hug trees together. Make loving safe. Bake a cake and eat it with no hands. Go find elephants and kiss them. Plan to build a rocketship. Imagine yourself magic. Make lots of forts with blankets. Let your angel fly. Reveal your own dreams. Search out the positive. Keep the gleam in your eye. Mail letters to God. Encourage silly. Plant licorice in your garden. Open up. Stop yelling. Express your love. A lot. Speak kindly. Paint their tennis shoes. Handle with caring. Children are miraculous.
- SARK









I do believe I was showing my children that I really love them by letting them do this on my patio! :-)

21 comments:

Mom2Drew said...

That is one wonderful mess!! Oh, to be a kid again right?

Becky said...

I always stripped my kids down for these kinds of projects too. They're going to have fun playing in that colorful box I bet. Love the poem too. I liked the part about putting them in water, although I guess that could be misconstrued ha ha.

C said...

I have a commercial playing a song "The sun is out, the sun is out" as i look at these! Looks like so much fun for them!!

Michelle said...

oh yeah! that is a whole lot of lovin' going on there! you are an awesome, awesome mom for allowing that. and i love that poem. so true.

Chell said...

yep that says true love to me. Fun shots

pat said...

Man, are they ever having fun! I love the intent look on your DD's face!

Christiana said...

Looks like the perfect pics for the challenge, nothing says kids like painting a fort!! Can I come play?

Amy said...

That is one beautiful mess! Looks like a lot of fun! Love the quote too. :)

Val said...

So fun!!

Jen said...

Now THAT look fun!

Bobbi said...

I love everything written here! It is so important to remember kids and just how much of a difference surprises and just having fun with their parents mean to them. Thank you for this. And I love these pictures, they probably had so much fun.

Shawna said...

How fun!! Looks like they had a blast!

Jess said...

Oh my! What an amazing mess! That looks like SO MUCH FUN! :)

Kristen Wagner Penn said...

What a wonderful thing to let them do on your patio! They look like they are having soooo much fun.

Margaret said...

Beautiful sentiments today, and you definitely are letting them express their inner selves with that project. That's just fabulous!

Malisa said...

yes- this is a true testament of love. Allowing to paint on patio knowing full well of the clean up to take place afterward- great shots- they are having fun!

Tori said...

these are great shots! looks like they are having a really great time.... and it's definitely a wonderful mess they're making!

Krista P said...

Oh dear!

I agree, you certainly were showing them they were loved. If they don't get it now, show them again when they have kids!

Tera Fraley said...

Wow, that is so fun!! And I love your quote, TFS!! It is so true, we can experience life again through our children!

Sharon said...

Wow! I need some xanax just looking at the photos!

I love how serious they are.

Suzy said...

I think you captured everything that is "childhood" in these shots! How fun making a creative mess! Love these!