631 ANNIE BECOMES MOM TO TWO Chapter 8 HUMILITY :)

"Parenthood abruptly catapults us into a permanent relationship with a stranger."

So says author Andrew Solomon in FAR FROM THE TREE.

My take?

I agree.

More of my take?

(Com'on ... you knew there'd be more ... :)

It's a parent's responsibility to learn how to create an emotionally enriching environment in which a house filled with strangers develops into a home where relationships are based in mutual respect.

When everyone learns to respond to family with positive attitudes that we reserve for our friends, a house transforms into 'home sweet home'.

Earlier in the week while flying home after visiting my 99 year old mom, I read an article, describing a woman who proved 'too principled for her own good'.  That statement resonated deeply within me for this reason:  All too often, the one who proclaims the highest principles sits on his or her high horse casting judgement upon others, whose words, actions and deeds prove no better or worse than that of 'the judge'.

For example:

If we cannot forgive a hot head who cannot forgive another hot head what does that make of us?

It makes unforgiving hot heads of us all.

Want more?

Well, ready or not—here it comes ... :)

When people I love bury their heads in the sand

Concerning casting judgement calls upon each other

I show up with my shovel

Not to hit them with it

But rather to dig through the rubble of

Relationships gone south while I work at figuring out

How to mediate family rifts in hopes that healing takes place

While both people are still on this side of the grass

In truth, those who cannot forgive

Have no clue how to sit their egos in time out

When the ego takes control over your mind

The wild thing grabs hold of your attitude and twists it out of shape

A misshapen attitude may take you where you never meant to go.

If you let your ego control your brain, can you be an angel on earth?

My take?

I think not.

No high horse for me, thank you very much ...

Given time, watch a high horse buck you off

Hmmm—makes me wonder if Truman had a horse

Maybe that's why he's famous for saying:

The buck stops here :)

Now that my kids are grown, can you guess for whom I model humility?

Yep.  Myself

Each day I say to self:

Annie, hold head high enough for self respect

Sit ego in time out chair

Attend to the bent of your attitudes

Lord, put your hand over my mouth until I think smart ...

The buck stops here

Seek and thee shall find—deeper truth :)