Christmas Time + Family Time

With the holiday season upon us and Mikey coming home from Russia, we've had tons of family time crammed into the last week. Every time I'm around my extended family, it causes me to reevaluate how I'm doing as a mother. Through all of this contemplation, I've come to two realizations: love and honesty are the two essential elements of a healthy relationship. I know it sounds simple, but it is something that has taken me 25+ years to learn. By giving my children unconditional love and providing opportunities for them to show love, they have the ability to learn compassion, confidence, charity, sacrifice, and humility. By showing my siblings love, I can be a source of refuge and comfort for them. I just pray that I can always have the serenity to face life's challenges with love forward in my mind.
Honest is also a characteristic that I've had to learn. I remember as a child being restricted by the web of dishonesty that I had created, and I have learned that I can handle absolutely any situation when it is presented in truth. I hope my children can learn these traits through me, trust that they can come to me in honesty for unconditional love, and always thrive in healthy relationships.